Serie A Week 6 - 29/9/07 (17.00 UK)
Roma-Inter
Stadio Olimpico
vs.
Games don’t get much bigger than this – it’s a head-to-head Scudetto showdown between the joint Serie A leaders and entertainment is guaranteed.
Post-Calciopoli the battle for domestic trophies has been between Roma and Inter, whether it be the Scudetto, Coppa Italia or Italian Super Cup. The Giallorossi have reason to be confident, as they have won three of their last four meetings with Roberto Mancini’s men, including the 1-0 Super Cup triumph at the San Siro secured by Daniele De Rossi on August 19 and a 6-2 drubbing in the Coppa Italia Final in May. Last season the record-breaking Inter were only defeated once, 3-1 on home turf by Roma. Yet there have also been disappointments, as Hernan Crespo’s lone goal here in Week 3 last term effectively paved the way to the title.
One thing is for sure – these teams tend to spark fireworks whenever they meet. Results in this fixture over the past few years include a 3-3, Roma’s 4-1 victory of 2004, a 2-2 and Inter snatching an epic 5-4 in May 1999. This term too they have been banging in the goals, as between them in Serie A they have netted 21 times in five rounds. Luciano Spalletti admitted after the 2-2 scorelines with both Juventus and Fiorentina that he has to tighten up the defence, while with Marco Materazzi and Patrick Vieira injured, Douglas Maicon suspended and Cristian Chivu hoping to be back against his old club, Inter have not looked too solid either.
Roma rested Francesco Totti, Simone Perrotta, Christian Panucci, Alberto Aquilani and Juan for the trip to Fiorentina, but Rodrigo Taddei is a doubt after limping off with a thigh injury, joining Marco Cassetti and former Inter youngster Marco Andreolli on the treatment table. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a sure-thing to start after six goals in five games, including Wednesday night’s brace in a 3-0 victory over Sampdoria, while Crespo and a reinvigorated Luis Figo are tipped to feature. Javier Zanetti returns to his old right-back slot in Maicon’s absence.
Keep an eye on: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) – When a match needs a moment of individual brilliance, Ibra is the one to deliver. The Swedish artist thrives in an atmosphere like this.
Last season: Roma 0-1 Inter
Roma (probable): Doni; Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto; De Rossi, Aquilani; Giuly, Pizarro, Mancini; Totti
Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Burdisso; Figo, Dacourt, Stankovic, Cesar; Crespo, Ibrahimovic
vs.
Roma-Inter
Stadio Olimpico
Games don’t get much bigger than this – it’s a head-to-head Scudetto showdown between the joint Serie A leaders and entertainment is guaranteed.
Post-Calciopoli the battle for domestic trophies has been between Roma and Inter, whether it be the Scudetto, Coppa Italia or Italian Super Cup. The Giallorossi have reason to be confident, as they have won three of their last four meetings with Roberto Mancini’s men, including the 1-0 Super Cup triumph at the San Siro secured by Daniele De Rossi on August 19 and a 6-2 drubbing in the Coppa Italia Final in May. Last season the record-breaking Inter were only defeated once, 3-1 on home turf by Roma. Yet there have also been disappointments, as Hernan Crespo’s lone goal here in Week 3 last term effectively paved the way to the title.
One thing is for sure – these teams tend to spark fireworks whenever they meet. Results in this fixture over the past few years include a 3-3, Roma’s 4-1 victory of 2004, a 2-2 and Inter snatching an epic 5-4 in May 1999. This term too they have been banging in the goals, as between them in Serie A they have netted 21 times in five rounds. Luciano Spalletti admitted after the 2-2 scorelines with both Juventus and Fiorentina that he has to tighten up the defence, while with Marco Materazzi and Patrick Vieira injured, Douglas Maicon suspended and Cristian Chivu hoping to be back against his old club, Inter have not looked too solid either.
Roma rested Francesco Totti, Simone Perrotta, Christian Panucci, Alberto Aquilani and Juan for the trip to Fiorentina, but Rodrigo Taddei is a doubt after limping off with a thigh injury, joining Marco Cassetti and former Inter youngster Marco Andreolli on the treatment table. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a sure-thing to start after six goals in five games, including Wednesday night’s brace in a 3-0 victory over Sampdoria, while Crespo and a reinvigorated Luis Figo are tipped to feature. Javier Zanetti returns to his old right-back slot in Maicon’s absence.
Keep an eye on: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) – When a match needs a moment of individual brilliance, Ibra is the one to deliver. The Swedish artist thrives in an atmosphere like this.
Last season: Roma 0-1 Inter
Roma (probable): Doni; Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto; De Rossi, Aquilani; Giuly, Pizarro, Mancini; Totti
Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Burdisso; Figo, Dacourt, Stankovic, Cesar; Crespo, Ibrahimovic
