[Jager]

Roma - Messina

Stadio Olimpico

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Roma will be hoping to bounce straight back when they host Messina after ending their amazing run of victories. Their Sicilian opponents will also be keen on gaining some much needed points to aid their battle against relegation. With two teams eager for a victory it should be an interesting encounter when Serie A’s newest Giallorossi meets their more established equivalent.

With only two away wins to their name all season, Messina will know just how big a task they face to overcome the on form capital giants. Their crucial win over Lecce at the weekend will have eased some of Coach Bortolo Mutti’s concerns, especially as it came courtesy of January signing Roberto Nanni’s first goal for the club.

Goals have been hard to come by for the Sicilian side who have only scored 27 times in their 29 matches so far. One man who will be keen to change that will be Gaetano D’Agostino. Still co-owned by Roma the midfielder will be eager to show Luciano Spalletti what he can do. Defensively his side will be at a disadvantage though, with Marco Zanchi suspended and Brazilian Rafael injured.

However, it is Roma who go into this game with the biggest injury headache. Forwards Shabani Nonda, Vincenzo Montella and Francesco Totti are all out as is first choice goalkeeper Alexander Doni.

To make matters worse Cristian Chivu is suspended following his red card against Ascoli along with fellow defender Philippe Mexes. That will be news that Spalletti could have done without after his side’s shock defeat to the Bianconeri. It is essential that the capital outfit bounce straight back in this game if they are to keep up the pressure on Fiorentina as the two teams battle it out for that fourth Champions League spot.



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Roma: Curci; Panucci, Bovo, Kuffour, Cufre; De Rossi, Aquilani; Tommasi, Perrotta, Mancini; Taddei

Messina: Storari; Cristante, Rezaei, Aronica, Parisi; Sculli, Coppola, Donati, D’Agostino; Di Napoli, Floccari

Ref: To follow...

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...6/rom-mes.html