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Roma - Empoli Preview
Stadio Olimpico
Roma will be hoping to make Serie A history when they host Empoli at the Stadio Olimpico. One victory will see the capital club equal the all time record of 10 consecutive wins. Three teams currently hold that record - Juventus, Milan and Bologna - but the last time they managed the feat was as far back as the 1963-64 season. Racking up their tenth win here would also set them up for a fairytale victory over city rivals Lazio to set the best ever run of results in top flight history.
As if equalling the best run of form the Division has ever seen wasn’t a big enough incentive, a win in this match could also see Roma move into the Champions League qualification places. After Fiorentina’s defeat to Livorno all talk of the Rome derby will be put on hold, as if the Biancocelesti overcome the Tuscan side and the Giallorossi also win fourth place would be theirs. Such is the desire for Champions League football that Roma captain Francesco Totti himself announced that he would be a Lazio fan for the weekend. Unfortunately they will be without the injured Christian Panucci and Shabani Nonda and the suspended Leandro Cufre.
In contrast to Roma’s incredible run, Empoli’s recent form has seen them drop all the way down the League table into the relegation zone. With just one win from their last 14 matches they will be desperate to disappoint the Giallorossi faithful and move away from danger. This could be the wrong place to start their revival though as the Azzurri have never won a Serie A game against Roma at the Olimpico.
They will be especially wary of Totti, as he has scored three goals in his last two home encounters with the Tuscan minnows. Luckily new Coach Luigi Cagni has a full squad to choose from, as the extra midweek fixtures have been kind to the Empoli physios.
Roma: Doni; Bovo, Mexes, Kuffour, Chivu; De Rossi, Aquilani; Taddei, Perrotta, Mancini, Totti
Empoli: Cejas; Lucchini, Coda, Pratali, Tosto; Busce, Moro, Ficini, Almiron; Tavano, Pozzi
[此贴子已经被作者于2006-2-16 10:45:27编辑过]
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发表于 2006-2-16 18:43:00
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发表于 2006-2-16 20:11:00