CL 2nd Leg: A.S Roma - Real Madrid [05-03-08]

[Podolski]

I heard Pepe will be back for the return leg so the loss of Ramos is ok

???--Pepe--Canna--Heinze
--------Gago----Guti----------
Robi---------Raul------Robben
--------------Ruud--------------

can't wait

[sinoy1]

Tell that to Juan.And Perrotta who got a yellow card for absolutely nothing while Diarra gets away with a clear elbow and recieves nothing...

The game was entertaining.Would have prefered if the ref was equal.

*was a response to pennywise *

[Pennywise]

Originally Posted by sinoy1

Tell that to Juan.And Perrotta who got a yellow card for absolutely nothing while Diarra gets away with a clear elbow and recieves nothing...

The game was entertaining.Would have prefered if the ref was equal.

*was a response to pennywise *

>> Well, Diarra should've got a yellow for that elbow, I agree.

However, the referee did more erros on Madrid than Roma. Remember the goal where one Roma player tackled Gago from behind and he got a bit injured....that should've been freekick and yellow....instead Roma got that goal. That's sad seen with Madrid eyes.

However, not that bad match and first half where finished with 45:04..so not much errors in that periode.

[sinoy1]

Totti rallies Roma troops Monday 3 March, 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Francesco Totti has issued a rallying cry ahead of the Roma’s Champions League game with Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Commenting after his side’s emphatic 4-0 win against Parma, Er Pupone told journalists that he was ready to make his mark in Madrid.

“I have already scored a historic goal at the Bernabeu and I am hungry to score another,” he roared.

Totti scored the winner for La Magica in Madrid six years ago and with morale high after the team’s 2-1 win over the Merengues on 19 February, the talismanic No 10 is in confident mood.

“We simply need a game from Roma. We want to win everything and we will never give up,” he asserted.

The Giallorossi’s recent performances at Inter and at home to Parma have been inspired by their captain’s return to form, which has seen him score two fantastic goals in his last two games.

Coach Luciano Spalletti also has cause to be optimistic as midfielder Claudio Pizarro, who scored in the first leg, and defender Juan return from injury.

Pizarro looks set to recover from a muscle problem in his thigh while Juan still has a niggle in his calf but is expected to travel with the team to Madrid.

Meanwhile, Real ended their terrible run of three consecutive defeats by beating Recreativo Huelva 3-2 on Saturday, but are in the thick of an injury crisis, which could cost them against Roma.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben will be missing from the starting line-up as the Champions League music resounds around the stadium on Wednesday evening.

CLAUDIO PIZARRO?! Good old channel 4.

[dukeofdavinci]

we need every single might will and all that i cant put in words on that night.it will be a very very hostile environment, we need to focus on us rather then their injuries and such as they do have a 2nd string side as good as their 1st.

[sinoy1]

True that.Their second string team can make any team in the world.We need to step it up once more.

The only problem I have is the little beef between Aquilani and Totti.Hopefully that doesnt bother them this game.

[dukeofdavinci]

The only problem I have is the little beef between Aquilani and Totti.Hopefully that doesnt bother them this game.

nah it wont, coz spalletti must have addressed it hard on both of them after the parma game.im sure he doesnt want to see another "cassano" in our squad

besides remember mancini n totti??both of them were in a bad terms but they got well fine and in fact this season i see them even closer then ever.

[Pennywise]

Its soon Real Madrid - AS Roma again. Roma have 2-1 to go and Madrid have to beat the Italians to go wider in the CL.

Real Madrid are 'down in the valley' atm. The last six matches, they've lost 4 of them...and against weaker teams on the table. There are big injure problems in the squad too.

Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Sergio Ramos and Christoph Metzelder will not play Wednesdays match.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Pepe, Robinho, Guti, Salgado and Drenthe are not 100 % fit after injures, and some of them will perhaps start on the bench.

I had been very optimistic if Madrid had played their full team, because then they're a better side than Roma, but so many injures on keyplayers will create unstability and that have sent Madrid in a bad situation atm.

I think Roma have a great chance to kick out Los Merengues from Europe. But how is the situation in Rome? Will you arrive with your best men?

[dukeofdavinci]

I think Roma have a great chance to kick out Los Merengues from Europe. But how is the situation in Rome? Will you arrive with your best men?

not exactly too, we also have 1, 2 niggles here and there.bsides i dont see real as a weaker side just bcoz of their injuries.i still have huge respect for them and who ever they field is more then capable of giving roma the challenge.

for one we would not under estimate real just bocz a few names are missing and spalletti is in view wth us.

Spalletti demands Bernabeu goal Monday 3 March, 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luciano Spalletti has made it clear that his Roma side won’t sit back and defend their 2-1 lead over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

The Giallorossi travel to Madrid knowing that a 0-0 draw would be enough to put them through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

However, a 1-0 defeat would put the Merengues through on away goals and Spalletti isn’t planning on suffocating the game.

“We can’t limit ourselves to defending and trying to stop them scoring,” the Tuscan tactician explained in Spanish newspaper AS.

“We have to score because we are expecting to have big problems if we try and hold the result at 2-1.”

Real may be without Arjen Robben and Ruud Van Nistelrooy due to injury, but Spalletti has identified some other stars to watch out for.

“Robinho is football,” he said. “He has the quality and the senses. There are players that can invent but can’t score, but he does both.

“Iker Casillas is very influential as he is an added strength for the defence and always talking to them and Sergio Ramos is an animal with power, strength and technique.

“They are a balanced side who know how to attack and defend.”

Francesco Totti’s recent form has been inspirational and he will need to be at his best again in Spain.

“Totti is stupendous for us,” Spalletti admitted. “He is the luxury player who picks the passes and is always ready to invent. He is our heart and soul.”

[Pennywise]

Van Nistelrooy will for sure miss the match together with Robben, Sneijder, Metzelder and Sergio Ramos.

Then Madrid will miss both key players in the attack, midfield and defensive position.

Roma will miss Cassetto, but have a great backup in Cicinho.

Things look dark now. Madrid will play with a bad striker duo (Raul-Baptista) and too much defensive midfielders in Gago and Diarra. Guti will probably play, but he is not 100 % yet either.

[Sven]

Me wonders if Robinho can save Real.

[sinoy1]

We're a bit too confident.We really shouldnt be talking to the media...this just drives real madrid in the locker room.I can see Schuster talking to his players motivating them off of what we're saying to the media.

We need to buckle down and focus.De Rossi needs to be on his game (like he has been the past 3 flipping seasons...ridiculously consistent ) IF Pizarro plays he;ll need to move faster then a snail distributing the ball.Hopefully Aquilani see's some action.Perrotta is needed to stretch Real Madrid on the defence and Attack.A day away and still im getting goosebumps.

[dukeofdavinci]

Things look dark now. Madrid will play with a bad striker duo (Raul-Baptista) and too much defensive midfielders in Gago and Diarra. Guti will probably play, but he is not 100 % yet either.

what the hell???those players are still dangerous man!!and for one we wont get too over our heads.

dont worry sinoy now is the time when our 7-1 drubbing comes in handy.the players must have been given stern warning by spalletti and i bet they are forced to watch that game over and over again until it sticks in their mind like being hypontised.

we need confidence but not over confidence, if stick to our usual attacking play, and dont depend too much on the 2-1 we have, we should be fine.

[Jager]

Its the end of the first half, and I would say Roma have played really well and confident, though its still 0-0. Anything can happen.

But you can see on the faces, that Roma want this game, need this game, must have this game.