Serie A Preview: AS Roma – CFC Genoa (Part 2)
Team News
AS Roma
The club first choice goalkeeper Julio Sergio is still out with an injury so Bogdan Lobont will deputise for him in the goal. Brazilian forward Adriano has joined his country man on the treatment table.
Expected Formation
Claudio Ranieri is expected to gamble with a 4-3-1-2 formation. Francesco Totti might be put back in his trequartista role. Er Pupone will look to support the likes of Mirko Vucinic and Marco Borriello. Daniele De Rossi, David Pizzaro and Simone Perrotta
will form a formidable midfield. Juan and Burdisso will form one of the best defensive pairings in the league. Riise and Cassetti will look to stretch the opposition by bombing forward from their full back positions.
Probable Line up
Bogdan Lobont, Riise, Nicolas Burdisso, Juan, Marco Cassetti, Daniele De Rossi, David Pizarro, Simone Perrotta, Francesco Totti, Mirko Vucinic, Marco Borriello
CFC Genoa
Genoa will be without the services of Bosko Jankovic and Miguel Veloso as the two are injured. Emiliano Moretti is suspended for the match. Luca Toni will once again lead the line for the Rossoblu.
Expected Formation
Gasperini will once again play the attacking 3-4-3 formation that has become his trademark. Luca Toni, Giuseppe Sculli and Rodrigo Palacio will form an impressive attacking trident. In a four man midfield, Domenico Criscito and Rafinha will look to provide
natural width in their surging runs. Giandomenico Mesto and Omar Milanetto will look to hold the midfield against Daniele De Rossi and company. Andrea Ranocchia, Emiliano Moretti and Dario Dainelli will form a three man defence in front of goalkeeper Eduardo.
Probable Line up
Eduardo, Andrea Ranocchia, Dario Dainelli, Emiliano Moretti, Rafinha, Marco Rossi, Omar Milanetto, Domenico Criscito,Rodrigo Palacio, Luca Toni, Giuseppe Sculli
Key Players
Daniele De Rossi
Il Capitano Futuro is slowly rediscovering the form that made him such a beastly talent. De Rossi had an average season in the 2009/10 campaign and his World Cup appearances were a disgrace for a player of his calibre. The player is slowly picking himself
up and will look to put in another impressive shift on Sunday. Against a four man Genoa midfield, De Rossi will have to be on his best and dominate the pitch for Roma to Succeed. De Rossi’s friend and skipper Totti has been in poor form and the player will
also look to show his support with a match winning display.
Luca Toni
Luca Toni was playing in a Gilarossi jersey barely three months back. The Italian hit man put in some good performances playing alongside his friends Totti and De Rossi. However, Toni will have to leave his sentiments at home as the two sides meet. Roma
has a defence that can crumble under pressure. Toni will have to hold the ball and bring Palacio and Sculli in to play. His strength coupled with his heading ability can prove to be match winning combination.
Prediction
This tie is really hard to call. Both the sides are desperate for victories. Roma’s dressing room issues can be a hindering block but a vocal home crowd will spur the team on. Genoa on the other hand has a very strong line up. The match can go either way
but we will settle down for a 1 – 1 draw.
Tags: