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Champions League QF Preview - Roma v Man Utd
- By Simon Barlow
- Published 03/31/2008
- Football Previews
- Unrated
Simon Barlow
Simon Barlow is a freelance football writer and commentator. He began broadcasting for TEAMtalk in 1997 and was part of the launch of the UK’s biggest independent football website a year later. As a Manchester United fan since childhood, he was delighted to be made that club’s TEAMtalk editor, before joining ProZone in 2002. After four years as a football statistician, he returned to broadcasting in 2006 and currently blogs on football and NFL.
View all articles by Simon Barlow
Roma v Man Utd
Roma, without injured Francesco Totti and suspended Simone Perrotta, will
approach this match hoping to nick a 1-0 win to take to Old Trafford for
the second leg.
Coach Luciano Spalletti will fear the counter-attacking thrust of
Manchester United on the beak and will attempt to deny Ronaldo and Wayne
Rooney any space on the break.
Rooney's goal at the Stadio Olimpico in last season's quarter-final first
leg blew the tie wide open and precipitated Roma's collapse in the
incredible second leg. To stop the duo's effectiveness, Roma need to
dominate possession by a margin of at least 60-40 and that means packing
the midfield against Sir Alex Ferguson's men.
The Scotsman looks set to continue with his theory of playing a five-man
midfield himself with Ryan Giggs to the left of Owen Hargreaves, Anderson
and either Michael Carrick or Paul Scholes.
Carrick is an injury doubt after sitting out Monday evening's session in
Rome with a hamstring strain.
Roma pressed United high up the field when they were in possession a year
ago, which surprised Ferguson and his assistant Carlos Queiroz. Without
Louis Saha (hamstring) that puts a greater onus on Rooney to hold the ball
up if the United defenders are making pressurised clearances.
Roma's players will attempt to infuriate the England striker with niggly
play and subtle digs in a bid to get him to react and fall foul of referee
Franck de Bleeckare.
The Belgian official sent off Marco Materrazi at Anfield a month ago as
Inter went down 2-0 to Liverpool and the Italians will be well aware of his
strict interpretation of the laws.
The first leg is likely to be fear-filled and negative for the first hour,
unless a freak effort or set piece opens up the match.
Roma's free-kick potency has been reduced by the loss of Totti, but they
could have a marginal height advantage at corners and from wide set plays
if Carrick is out.
Tactical discipline will be the key to the match for both sides and Roma
could have the edge in this department as they will be forced to pay more
attention to this without their talisman Totti.
Ronaldo will be foced to stay out wide in the search for space outside a
congested midfield and Roma will hope to deal with him there in the same
manner AC Milan did last April - by getting bodies close to him when he
starts his forward dribbles.
However, Anderson provides the new x-factor in the game which may disrupt
the Romans' plan. The Brazilian is yet to score since his big money summer
switch from Portugal, but is the man in form and could make the most of a
big moment.
Betting Predictions: Half-Time market (Draw) 4pts, Correct Score (0-0) 2
pts.
Written by Simon Barlow, a professional sports writer who blogs about football betting at Betfair.
Roma, without injured Francesco Totti and suspended Simone Perrotta, will
approach this match hoping to nick a 1-0 win to take to Old Trafford for
the second leg.
Coach Luciano Spalletti will fear the counter-attacking thrust of
Manchester United on the beak and will attempt to deny Ronaldo and Wayne
Rooney any space on the break.
Rooney's goal at the Stadio Olimpico in last season's quarter-final first
leg blew the tie wide open and precipitated Roma's collapse in the
incredible second leg. To stop the duo's effectiveness, Roma need to
dominate possession by a margin of at least 60-40 and that means packing
the midfield against Sir Alex Ferguson's men.
The Scotsman looks set to continue with his theory of playing a five-man
midfield himself with Ryan Giggs to the left of Owen Hargreaves, Anderson
and either Michael Carrick or Paul Scholes.
Carrick is an injury doubt after sitting out Monday evening's session in
Rome with a hamstring strain.
Roma pressed United high up the field when they were in possession a year
ago, which surprised Ferguson and his assistant Carlos Queiroz. Without
Louis Saha (hamstring) that puts a greater onus on Rooney to hold the ball
up if the United defenders are making pressurised clearances.
Roma's players will attempt to infuriate the England striker with niggly
play and subtle digs in a bid to get him to react and fall foul of referee
Franck de Bleeckare.
The Belgian official sent off Marco Materrazi at Anfield a month ago as
Inter went down 2-0 to Liverpool and the Italians will be well aware of his
strict interpretation of the laws.
The first leg is likely to be fear-filled and negative for the first hour,
unless a freak effort or set piece opens up the match.
Roma's free-kick potency has been reduced by the loss of Totti, but they
could have a marginal height advantage at corners and from wide set plays
if Carrick is out.
Tactical discipline will be the key to the match for both sides and Roma
could have the edge in this department as they will be forced to pay more
attention to this without their talisman Totti.
Ronaldo will be foced to stay out wide in the search for space outside a
congested midfield and Roma will hope to deal with him there in the same
manner AC Milan did last April - by getting bodies close to him when he
starts his forward dribbles.
However, Anderson provides the new x-factor in the game which may disrupt
the Romans' plan. The Brazilian is yet to score since his big money summer
switch from Portugal, but is the man in form and could make the most of a
big moment.
Betting Predictions: Half-Time market (Draw) 4pts, Correct Score (0-0) 2
pts.
Written by Simon Barlow, a professional sports writer who blogs about football betting at Betfair.