Friday 28 November 2008

Serie A - Week 14: Weekend Preview

Roma go into their Serie A clash with Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico this Sunday confident that the worst is behind them.

The Giallorossi suffered an awful start to the season, as they picked up all three points in just two of their first 10 games in the league.

However, a 1-0 win over Lazio in the Rome derby two weeks ago followed by a convincing 3-0 victory away to Lecce in the last game have dragged the capital club up to 14th place, three points clear of the relegation zone.


On Wednesday they took their good form from the league into Europe with a 3-1 win over Romanian side CFR Cluj to send them top of UEFA Champions League Group A.

"Now we can say we are finally out of our crisis," coach Luciano Spalletti said after the midweek win. "I always said my squad have superior qualities. Now they are showing it and I can be calm.

"You can say we're on the right path now. We need to carry on with our feet on the ground. I saw plenty of things which inspire hope."

Spalletti is just missing injured defender Christian Panucci for this weekend's tie with the Gigliati.

His Fiorentina counterpart Cesare Prandelli is without suspended defender Gianluca Comotto and injured trio Dario Dainelli, Marco Donadel and Martin Jorgensen as he prepares to face his former club.

In contrast to Roma the Viola started the season well but were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday following a 2-1 defeat to Lyon.

However, after an impressive 4-2 win over Udinese last weekend Fiorentina will be looking to bounce back immediately and avoid a fifth away defeat of the season.

Leaders Inter will also be looking to rebound after a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Greek side Panathinaikos in Wednesday night's Champions League Group B tie when they host high-flyers Napoli.

Jose Mourinho's side will be looking to make amends with a fifth-consecutive league win.

Second-placed AC Milan, held to 2-2 draws at Torino in Serie A and Portsmouth in the UEFA Cup, will be trying to stay on the tail of their neighbours when they travel to mid-table Palermo in Sunday's evening game.

Meanwhile Lazio hope to get their season up and running again when they travel to Bergamo to face 10th-placed Atalanta.

The Albiceleste were joint top of the table with Inter a little over a month ago, but a haul of one point from a possible six has left them in fifth.

Elsewhere Cagliari host Sampdoria, Bologna travel to Genoa, Siena welcome Torino and Chievo are away to Udinese.

On Saturday third-placed Juventus host Reggina. The Bianconeri had put together a five-match winning streak before that was ended last weekend with the 1-0 defeat to title rivals Inter, so the Zebre will be keen to repeat last season's 4-0 thrashing of Reggina.

Earlier in the day Catania play Lecce for a vital three points at the bottom of the table.

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