Rome Derby adds Cup spice
ByReuters
Published 05/02/2003 at 13:30 GMT
Often considered an annoying sideline for Italy's big clubs. But currently sitting a lowly ninth in Serie A Fabio Capello's AS Roma are hoping it will save their season. On Wednesday night - LIVE on eurosport.com - the Stadio Olimpico will host often volatile and always spectacular Rome Derby: SS Lazio v AS Roma. And a place in the final at stake...
Eurosport
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Often considered an annoying sideline for Italy's big clubs. But currently sitting a lowly ninth in Serie A Fabio Capello's AS Roma are hoping it will save their season. On Wednesday night - LIVE on eurosport.com - the Stadio Olimpico will host often volatile and always spectacular Rome Derby: SS Lazio v AS Roma. And a place in the final at stake...
Grella: 'You can't stop Francesco Totti!'
"I’ll be fired up because every time that I step onto the field against Roma I always remember the 5-1 defeat we suffered," explained Lazio's explosive Yugoslav international midfielder Dejan Stankovic, who pledged his future to the club yesterday.
"That is why when I equalised in the 2-2 draw with them earlier this season I started to cry. That is how important this game is."
This season, Lazio were expected to struggle under the weight of off-field financial turmoil, but coach Roberto Mancini has kept his charges focused, and their fierce camaraderie and competitiveness promises to lift again for this most passionate of rivalries:
"My hope is that it will be an entertaining match that lives up to the high expectations of such an occassion," said Mancini on Tuesday.
"They will be two beautiful matches," continued the former Italian international and Lazio striker. "Two great teams, a full stadium, what more can you ask for? I'd love to be playing myself."
ROMA TO ATTACK
Roma's own troubled campaign has shown recent signs of returning to the flowing football that delivered them the championship in 2000/01. Their quarter-final trouncing of Serie B Vicenza, 5-3 was a superb exhibition of attacking football with captain Francesco Totti announcing his return to full fitness with a classic display of playmaking.
It was followed up on the weekend with a comprehensive 3-1 drubbing of tough-nuts Bologna and according to diminutive striker Vincenzo Montella, Coppa Italia success is no longer optional for the 'giallorossi'.
"We are desperate to lift the Italian Cup, this trophy is an important target for us and we want to give a victory to our fans," explained the former Sampdoria marksman.
"I have no doubts that Roma can win over the two-legs against Lazio."
And you can follow all the action from the Olimpico LIVE on eurosport.com from 20:45CET, Wednesday night.
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