Champions League Preview: Roma-Real Madrid
Roma-Real Madrid, one year later. Exactly like twelve months ago, Giallorossi and Merengues will face each other at the Olimpico stadium in the opening match of the 2002 Champions League, but fortunately the mood will be totally different, as that meeting took place a few hours after the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Roma-Real Madrid, one year later. Exactly like twelve months ago, Giallorossi and Merengues will face each other at the Olimpico stadium in the opening match of the 2002 Champions League, but fortunately the mood will be totally different, as that meeting took place a few hours after the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Against the reigning European champions, Roma will try to bounce back from the first huge disappointment of their season. Last Saturday, at the end of a quite disappointing performance, the Giallorossi suffered a shocking 1-2 defeat at the hands of Bologna in the first round of the Serie A. Capello's men appeared totally out of shape, and fell in front of a supposedly weaker but certainly more healthy and focused opponent.
More concerning was Roma's lack of composure on and off the pitch. It all started with Franco Sensi's criticism of Fabio Capello for his downbeat comments on Roma's season prospects. According to Don Fabio, the Giallorossi cannot hope for more than an anonymous fourth place in Serie A. Then Capello blasted himself referee Rosetti for his questionable decisions in Bologna-Roma, which in turn spurred Sensi's threat to withdraw the team from Serie A if any act of poor refereeing happened again. You never get bored in the Eternal City...
Meanwhile Real Madrid also had their lapses of attention this weekend in Seville before being saved by a divine intervention which took the shape of a floodlight failure. Betis were eating the Merengues alive thanks to a Capi goal before finding themselves in the dark. Some socios said the Pope –whom the squad met on Monday – was the one who switched the lights off.
Florentino Perez' men travelled to Rome without Ronaldo. The Nike homme-sandwich should make his debut with Real before at least two weeks. His absence gives Vicente Del Bosque more time to address internal problems at the club. Even if chairman Perez says there is no rift in the team, there are clear signs showing Ronaldo was not totally accepted in the dressing room.
After celebrating a great ninth success in Europe's top tournament, Real are hoping to make it again this term as their century year was not as flabbergasting as they hoped. They will have to justify Ronaldo's audacious investment by competing on all fronts but a certain lack of squad depth might harm their plans.
TEAM NEWS
Against Real, Roma coach Fabio Capello will miss two fundamental players like Totti and Batistuta. Along with Brazilian midfielder Lima, the Italy international and the Argentinean striker will serve a suspension caused by last season's brawl at the end of the match against Galatasaray. Most likely, Capello will field a 3-5-2 line-up, with Cassano and Montella on the offensive line and Spanish playmaker Guardiola in the middle.
We've already mentioned Ronaldo's absence. He is Vicente Del Bosque's only concern with the rest of the first team available for selection. Even though Real are kicking off their campaign on away soil, they are not going to change their tactics and will seek a second win in a row in the Olimpico after last season's blitz on September 11. Esteban Cambiasso and Zinedine Zidane will be Real's most noticeable novelties on Tuesday night, whereas Flavio Conceiçao and Oscar Minambres are both out injured.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Roma (3-5-2): Antonioli, Zebina, Samuel, Panucci, Cafù, Emerson, Guardiola, Tommasi, Candela, Cassano, Batistuta.
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas, Míchel Salgado, Hierro, Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Makelele, Cambiasso, Figo, Zidane, Raúl, Morientes.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Roma: Josep Guardiola. I'm pretty sure that "Pep" will play a great match. First of all, Real Madrid cannot be considered as a "normal" opponent for a man who spent almost all of his career with the Barcelona jersey. Furthermore, this will be his first high-level match in a long time, which he spent partly recovering from his knee problems and partly fighting for the save with Brescia.
Real Madrid: Fernando Morientes. No Ronaldo in sight, I'm afraid. Not so long ago the Spain marksman was the club's undisputed striker. Now he is demoted to the "not-wanted-at-the-club-any-longer" list and has been linked with a move to Inter in January. Quite a radical change for Morientes who cannot concentrate on his football like a true Real & Spain number 9 should. Real Madrid's Spanish clan stood by Morientes, but this has caused a rift within the dressing room as Ronaldo seems to be the Casa Blanca's new black sheep.