CL: Sporting Lisbon - A.S Roma [07-11-07] - TalkSoccer

**dukeofdavinci** · 21-10-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Roma and Sporting maintain focus

Second meets third in Group F when AS Roma welcome Sporting Clube de Portugal to the Italian capital, with both sides eager for three points to maintain the pressure on early leaders Manchester United FC. Roma go into the game aiming to make amends for their Matchday 2 defeat in Manchester but Sporting, who trail their opponents on goal difference alone, should arrive buoyed by their victory at FC Dynamo Kyiv last time out – their first success on their travels in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

• Roma went down 1-0 at Old Trafford on 2 October, yielding to a 70th-minute Wayne Rooney strike. They had opened their campaign a fortnight earlier by beating Dynamo 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, Simone Perrotta and Francesco Totti the scorers as Luciano Spalletti's men made it six home games unbeaten in the competition.

• After losing 1-0 at home to United on Matchday 1, Sporting found the perfect response with their 2-1 victory in Kiev. Tonel opened the scoring after 14 minutes and although Vaschuk equalised for the hosts, Anderson Polga's 38th-minute strike proved enough for Sporting to take the three points.

• Prior to beating Dynamo, Sporting had a disappointing record on the road in the UEFA Champions League, having registered five defeats and one draw in their two previous group stage campaigns. Indeed you had to go back to the 1970/71 season for their last away victory in Europe's élite club competition – a 4-0 success at Malta's Floriana FC in the first round of the European Champion Clubs' Cup.

• The two teams sit level on three points in Group F with United top of the section with six points. Given both sides have been beaten already by the English champions, neither will want to lose further ground with another defeat here.

• Paulo Bento's Sporting will hope to do better than on their last visit to Italy, at FC Internazionale Milano last November, when Hernán Crespo's solitary effort ended their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds. That defeat was their sixth in succession away to Italian opposition.

• Sporting may have beaten Inter 1-0 in the sides' earlier fixture in Lisbon in September 2006, Marco Caneira scoring, but it was the Lisbon club's only victory in their last 12 matches against Italian teams.

• Roma have previously met Portuguese opposition in five two-legged ties in UEFA club competition, winning three and losing two. Their record in their home games reads two victories, two draws and one defeat.

• The Giallorossi's most recent Portuguese opponents were Boavista FC, whom they faced in the second round of the 2000/01 UEFA Cup. Vincenzo Montella scored the only goal of the first leg in Porto while Hidetoshi Nakata found the net in a 1-1 draw in the return leg in the Italian capital.

• Sporting coach Bento has unhappy memories of facing a couple of Roma's players. He was in the Portugal team beaten 2-0 by Italy in a friendly in April 2000 in which Giallorossi captain Totti scored the second goal. Bento was also on the receiving end of a 2-0 loss when his then side SL Benfica played an AC Milan team that included Christian Panucci in the 1994/95 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

uefa.com*-*UEFA Champions League*-*Fixtures & Results

must win match.preview to come soon.

**dukeofdavinci** · 22-10-2007, 02:38 PM

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Spalletti builds up Sporting test Monday 22 October, 2007

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Roma boss Luciano Spalletti is in no doubt that tomorrow’s clash against Sporting Lisbon is a must-win. “It’s almost a knockout game.”

The Giallorossi will look to bounce back from defeat against Manchester United as they take on the Portuguese giants at the Stadio Olimpico.

With Dynamo Kiev yet to claim a point it looks like the battle for the second qualification spot will be a race between Roma and Sporting.

“We are playing for a place in the next round in these next two games against Lisbon,” Spalletti stated. “They are an attacking side and they have lots of danger men.”

After a 4-4 draw in the Derby del Sud against Napoli, the Magica have had to contend with Press reports that they lost their nerve, but Spalletti disagrees.

“There’s no crisis here,” the Tuscan tactician insisted. “We aren’t closing out the results we deserve and things have gone against us.

“We need to stay calm because all this talk isn’t good for anything.”

Midfielders Rodrigo Taddei and Alberto Aquilani as well as stopper Marco Andreolli are likely to miss out on the key encounter with Sporting.

However, there is good news for Spalletti as goalkeeper Alexander Doni and defenders Juan and Christian Panucci should return.

glad to hear or back line key players are returning.

**sinoy1** · 23-10-2007, 02:25 PM

Doni and Juan must play this match.These next two games will be key matches.We must win.Any means necessary!

robinho · 23-10-2007, 02:44 PM

go roma
i hope roma's defence will be better this game

**D-Kin** · 23-10-2007, 04:22 PM

Perrotta is out.
channel4.com - Football Italia

**D-Kin** · 23-10-2007, 04:23 PM

Roma (probable): Doni; Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto; De Rossi, Pizarro, Cassetti, Giuly, Mancini; Totti

Sporting Lisbon (probable): Tiago; Abel, Tonel, Polga, Ronny, Moutinho; Veloso, Romagnoli, Vukcevic; Yannich, Liedson

From CH4.

**D-Kin** · 23-10-2007, 06:44 PM

Roma: Doni; Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto; De Rossi, Pizarro; Cassetti, Giuly, Mancini; Totti

Sporting Lisbon: Tiago; Abel, Tonel, Miguel Veloso, Ronny; Izmailov, Joao Moutinho, Vukcevic; Romagnoli; Liedson, Yannick Djalo`

Ref: Hauge (Nor)

**jec1** · 23-10-2007, 08:22 PM

80th' 2-1 roma

Juan 15' Mirko Vucinic 70' for Roma

Liedson 18' for Sporting

**D-Kin** · 23-10-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Champions League, Gp G Matchday 3 - 23/10/07 (19.45)
Roma 2 - 1 Sporting
Juan 15 (R), Liedson 18 (S), Vucinic 70 (R)
Stadio Olimpico

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Roma missed a penalty and lost Francesco Totti, but a stunning Mirko Vucinic solo effort saw off Sporting Lisbon 2-1.

Luciano Spalletti said this was a decisive game for qualification, as both sides were realistically challenging for second place behind Manchester United. The Giallorossi needed a victory after their 1-0 loss at Old Trafford, but also to counteract the poor Serie A form that saw them held 4-4 by Napoli at the weekend.

Simone Perrotta failed a late fitness test on his ankle and Rodrigo Taddei, Alberto Aquilani and Mauro Esposito remained sidelined, so full-back Marco Cassetti was used in a more attacking role. Christian Panucci played his first Champions League game of the season, returning along with Juan and Alexander Doni. Sporting Lisbon dropped their goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic as punishment for his late arrival from international duty, giving Tiago the gloves.

There were worrying scenes just a few minutes in, as a free kick was touched on for Francesco Totti, who was charged down by Liedson as he pulled the trigger, taking a heavy knock to the right ankle. The captain carried on, but was clearly not moving comfortably.

Doni only parried a Miguel Veloso snapshot and the goalkeeper nearly made another howler soon after when he tried to dribble the ball outside his own area.

Ludovic Giuly spread the play for Amantino Mancini, but Totti hit a fresh air shot from six yards on the cut-back. From the resulting corner, Philippe Mexes spun round for a spectacular volley that skimmed the crossbar.

Roma were pouring forward and deservedly took the lead after 15 minutes. Another corner kick from David Pizarro found Juan's towering header from six yards, taking advatage of Tiago's mistimed run off his line.

It didn't last long, as Sporting Lisbon drew level only three minutes later. The defence was caught napping on Abel's cross for a Liedson header between two Roma jerseys that looped into the near top corner.

Totti exchanged passes with Mancini and Il Capitano placed an angled drive across the face of goal to skim the far post with his right foot. Yannick Djalo's strike was deflected wide, as both sides came forward in waves.

Giuly's shot was charged down, but the moment the fans had feared arrived when Totti requested a substitution for that ankle injury. Mirko Vucinic was the only striker at their disposal and Panucci took the captain's armband. Cassetti continued to struggle in his advanced position and Spalletti will be expected to make changes after the break.

Roma had a perfect opportunity to put the match back on track straight after the restart. Cassetti burst down the right and Vucinic was tripped between two Sporting players. With Totti off the field, Mancini took penalty duties, but second choice goalkeeper Tiago tipped it on to the upright and Roma were unable to scramble the loose ball into the net.

That incident hit Mancini's confidence hard and he volleyed well over on the inside of his right foot with only the goalkeeper to beat. The same could not be said of Sporting Lisbon, as Doni's fingertip save turned a Marat Izmailov solo effort round the upright.

The Giallorossi were unlucky on 65 minutes, as Mancini's header danced across the face of goal, but nobody could get the final touch it needed to prod it into the net.

Roma finally restored their advantage with a sensational goal from Vucinic - his first of the season! The former Lecce striker dribbled past two tackles from Izmailov and Tonel at the byline with his left foot and drilled a powerful finish into the far top corner with his right. The oft-injured player was booked for taking off his shirt in celebration, but did not seem to care, as this was a very important moment for him.

Giuly made way for midfielder Matteo Brighi and when Mancini was replaced by Cicinho, the man who missed the penalty was greeted by a mixture of applause and jeers by the home fans. Pizarro drilled wide from a promising position and Doni needed two touches to smother a powerful Veloso free kick.

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Roma: Doni; Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto; De Rossi, Pizarro; Cassetti, Giuly (Brighi 73), Mancini (Cicinho 86); Totti (Vucinic 35)
Sporting Lisbon: Tiago; Abel, Tonel, Miguel Veloso, Ronny (Pierovic 77); Izmailov (Celsinho 81), Joao Moutinho, Vukcevic (Paredes 70); Romagnoli; Liedson, Yannick Djalo`
Ref: Hauge (Nor)
Missed penalty: Mancini 49 (R)

channel4.com - Football Italia

**jec1** · 23-10-2007, 08:50 PM

Good games guys, Roma played well....the team with more depth wins!

**dukeofdavinci** · 23-10-2007, 08:53 PM

omfg!!

for the first time in his whole fuking roma career vucnic did some thing really spectacular!!

very nice goal, wont say its the best game we had but 3 pts in the bag and job done for this game.

defense needs a lot of work, mexes particularly.he seems to be off th emark this season and really needs to get his head back.all in all good to be back in winning ways.

**sinoy1** · 23-10-2007, 09:06 PM

I told you...Play Vucinic as a regular striker and he'll be gold.

LaVecchiaSignora · 23-10-2007, 09:45 PM

Nah vucinic just got lucky thats all...he still doesnt impress me at all..and i was a big supporter at the begining of the season

Super Pibe #7 · 23-10-2007, 09:55 PM

Really you don't rate him ? I think he is great player, but hasn't been able to impress since he doesn't fixture in the side regularly enough.

Great goal by him though and mancini must've been relieved(though it wasn't a penalty imo)

**sinoy1** · 23-10-2007, 09:55 PM

The fact still remains is that he is completely different to play as a striker.This is where, in my opinion, he plays to his maximum potential and not on the wing.Totti might be out in the next game so we'll definately see more of him there.

WE didnt play too well but we scraped a win.Thats all I asked for.