This will be an interesting encounter between two sides having different aspirations for the season; with both teams fighting hard for securing the victory.
Serie A Week 30 sees the Biancoazzurri making a trip to Rome to face off AS Roma. The match will be played at the Stadio Olimpico with an early kick-off, starting at 10.30 (GMT).
AS Roma were unable to overcome the reigning Italian Champions at the San Siro despite taking the lead through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pablo-Osvaldo-c28996. They could not hold on to even secure a draw, as the Milanello proved too strong
for the Giallorossi.
Novara had a crunch clash against Lecce in matchday 29 fixture of the Serie A, the match ended in a goalless draw.
AS Roma
The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan and Palermo,
however they succumbed to soft defeats against newly promoted Atalanta and their fierce rivals, Lazio.
A result at the San Siro would have propelled the Giallorossi to within a point of the fifth placed Udinese; however their inability to shut the Milan team out means that they are now four points adrift of
Udinese and seven points adrift of the third placed http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lazio-c39775.
Luis Enrique would be hoping to get maximum points against lowly ranked Novara, and to continue their pursuit for European action next year. In what has been an inconsistent season for the capital side, they
would be hoping to finish the season with some pride.
Despite their prior inconsistencies, Roma have managed to string together two victories from week 27 and 28. However, their last five games give us a reflection of the season the Roman outfit have had. They
have won two matches in their last games, and the rest have been losses.
Novara
Attilio Tesser’s arrival at the club has permeated optimism throughout the squad, and has shown what the Biancoazzurri had been missing all this time. Novara were in shambles prior to his arrival, accumulating
17 points from their 26 games.
Tesser’s first match in charge after his appointment was a miraculous 1-0 victory against the high-flying Udinese. Tesser has managed to secure seven points from their last three games, and the free fall
they were suffering from has ended after his installation as the head coach. Novara’s last five games is in complete contrast to their season, having lost only twice.
Upon his return to Novara, Tesser deemed the remaining 12 matches as 12 finals, and he has thoroughly motivated his players to give their all for the team.
Team News
AS Roma
The capital outfit has to contend with a few injuries on their front as their hard working striker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Bogdan-Lobont-c7753, Nicolas
Burdisso and Juan make up the remaining casualties for the match against Novara.
Osvaldo would be starting in attack for Luis Enrique, who would be hoping that the temperamental striker maintains his recent goal scoring endeavours till the remainder of the season.
Probable starting eleven: Stekelenburg, Taddei, De Rossi, Kjaer, Angel, Simplicio, Gago, Marquinho, Totti, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Osvaldo-c28821, Lamela.
Novara
Attilio Tesser’s side has not been prolific in front of goal, and have not relied on any single players for scoring goals. In this way they would not exactly be affected by the absence of Marco Rigoni. Rigoni
has been the Biancoazzurri’s top-scorer for the season, scoring on seven occasions in his 28 appearances.
Probable starting eleven: Ujkani, Morganella, Paci, Lisuzzo, Garcia, Gemiti, Porcari, Radovanovic, Pesce, Caracciolo, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jeda-c18232
Players to watch
Pablo Osvaldo (AS http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603)
With Euro 2012 on the horizon, all the Italian strikers are out to impress Cesare Prandelli. Even though Osvaldo has an outside chance of making it to the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926 squad, continuation of his recent goal scoring
form might lead to a call from the international side. This would be enough to keep the striker motivated to perform well against Novara.
Filippo Porcari (Novara)
The 27-year-old has had his fair shares of ups and down this season. However, he has been able to contribute on the goal scoring front for the Biancoazzurri, and Tesser would be keen for the striker to perform
well in the match to give Novara a chance of snatching a victory.
Prediction
Even though the neutrals would love Tesser to conquer all the odds and save Novara from relegation, and with 27 points still up for grabs, the Italian would be giving his all to make sure they stay in the
Serie A. However, Roma possess too much quality to win the match, especially as the match is at Stadio Olimpico. Verdict: 2-1
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