[Forza_Roma]

Serie A Week 38 - 27/5/07 (14.00 UK)

Livorno - Atalanta
Stadio Picchi

Pride is the only thing at stake this weekend at the Stadio Picchi as Livorno welcome Atalanta to Tuscany. The Amaranto ensured that they would be playing Serie A football for a fourth straight term after drawing with Torino in Week 37, while the Orobici are mathematically unable to obtain a UEFA Cup spot.

Nonetheless, it’s been a tremendous season for Stefano Colantuono’s side, who have been one of Italy’s yo-yo clubs in recent times. The fact that they will be playing top-flight football for a second straight season should allow them to strengthen considerably in the summer, while they will be keen to hang on to experienced heads like Cristiano Doni and Christian Vieri. Unfortunately, the former has seen his season ended prematurely by injury, while the latter is unlikely to start against Livorno as he continues his rehabilitation process after missing much of the campaign.

Colantuono is unlikely to make many changes to the side which earned a highly-respectable 1-1 draw against champions Inter last week. Moris Carrozzieri is banned, so his place at the heart of the defence is likely to go to Leonardo Talamonti. Nelson Abeijon is also expected to miss out, with Massimo Donati tipped to get the nod ahead of him in midfield.

There’s every chance that the Stadio Picchi faithful will be waving goodbye to several key players on Sunday afternoon, with the likes of Cristiano Lucarelli and Marco Amelia expected to move on. The No 99 might be the club’s captain and scorer of so many of the Amaranto’s goals since their return to Serie A, but it seems likely that a rift with the fans and President Aldo Spinelli could see him depart his hometown team. So after missing the draw with Torino after pulling out through injury in the warm-up, there’s no way he’ll miss the chance to potentially pull on his side’s jersey for the last time.

Paulinho was the man who replaced Lucarelli against Toro, but he is expected to miss out this week. Amelia is also tipped to return between the sticks for the first time in over a month in place of Emanuele Manitta. Elsewhere, Dario Knezevic should step into the defence in place of old head Simone Pavan, while Aparecido Cesar could return at the expense of Giovanni Pasquale.

Man on fire: Adriano Ferreira Pinto (Atalanta) – The Brazilian midfielder has slowly but surely made an impact in Bergamo. Has netted in consecutive weeks, while also chipping in with several assists.

Last season: Not played

Form guide: Livorno (L L L W D) Atalanta (W D W W D)

Livorno (probable): Amelia; Grandoni, Knezevic, Galante; Pfertzel, Morrone, A Filippini, Passoni, Cesar; Fiore; Lucarelli

Atalanta (probable): Calderoni; Rivalta, Loria, Carrozzieri, Adriano; Bernardini, Donati, Ariatti; Ferreira Pinto, Tissone; Zampagna

Ref: To follow...

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