Blog: Last Man Standing Serie A's reputation in Europe's top competition is now in the hands of Roma. Steve Wilson wonders what they can offer against Manchester United
So Italy's Champions League hopes come down to this. It all rests on a Roma side who are also battling hard on the domestic front to stay in the title race and it is a Giallorossi team shorn of Francesco Totti. They face a team who beat them 7-1 at this stage last year and who look rampant and unstoppable in the Premier League. On paper it doesn't look good.
However, as we all know, matches are won on grass and not sheets of A4. I Lupi have dismissed Lyon and Real Madrid in recent knockout stages and are a force on the rise, while the scars of 1984 still cause constant pain to all connected with the Olimpico outfit. Despite the severe challenge that faces them, they have a real chance this year to atone for that painful loss to Liverpool 24 years ago.
United and probably Barcelona stand between them and May's Final in Moscow, and tonight's game should hold no fear. They disposed of United at home last year and took a draw in the Group F encounter earlier this season - admittedly against a below-par side. I would expect Roma to show their best at home and it is paramount that we see them take a positive result to England.
But it is the tie in a wider sense that will allow us to gauge just how far Luciano Spalletti has taken this side of blossoming young talent and experienced veterans. The first task will be containing Cristiano Ronaldo. As hard as it is to admit, he is the world's best player right now. If Roma can quench his thirst for goals and showboating then they have done a good part of the job.
However, effectively clamping down the Portuguese playmaker arguably takes two men - and that leaves a lot of free space for the likes of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez to exploit. It is a night for men like Philippe Mexes, Daniele De Rossi and Alberto Aquilani to live up the reputations we keep reminding people of by shackling United's more potent elements.
It is an occasion for Mirko Vucinic to remind us of the better facets of his game, for Amantino Mancini to show us that the step-over is not the sole property of United's No 7 and for Christian Panucci to get some revenge for the snide comments which claimed he begged for mercy during the 7-1 rout in England's north-west last year.
While Spalletti's side may be a year or two - and perhaps a couple of match-turning players - away from being a genuine Euro contender they are undoubtedly on the cusp of something big. A good result tonight is essential in order to set-up a major upset in European football. Hopefully by the end of the second leg Roma will have reclaimed pride and dignity - as well as a semi-final spot.
Spalletti: We can stop United Tuesday 1 April, 2008
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Luciano Spalletti is confident that Roma can shock Manchester United without Francesco Totti, but Alex Ferguson expects the Cristiano Ronaldo show.
The Giallorossi are looking to avenge last season’s capitulation at this stage of the Champions League when the Red Devils destroyed them 8-3 on aggregate.
However, they will have to do so without star man Totti, who is injured and focusing on returning for the second leg.
“I have a lot of faith in the lads and I expect them to step up as they have in the past, but to an even greater extent,” Spalletti insisted.
“It is an exaggeration to say that 90 per cent of the tie will be decided tonight when you remember that last year we lost 7-1 away.
“United have recognisable qualities, such as speed and ability on the counterattack.
“We are a more mature and experienced side than we were last year and the 7-1 helped us to grow, but we have to be balanced.
“I’m very disappointed that Totti won’t be there for lots of reasons, but the fact that we have arrived here as a team suggests that the rest of the players are at this level.
“On paper, Ferguson’s team is the strongest in the world and they can go out and but the best players in defence and attack.
“We aren’t going out for revenge or looking to score seven goals but we want to show our quality while paying attention to theirs.”
If Roma are to succeed, they will have to find a way to restrict the influence of Portuguese wizard Ronaldo.
“He is very strong from an athletic point of view and also technically – he is the complete player” Spalletti stressed.
“But we have managed to beat other sides with champions like Ronaldo and we have done so by using the strength of the group.”
United manager Ferguson doesn’t agree that Roma have what it takes to stop Ronaldo and thinks the former Sporting Lisbon man will make the difference.
“The boy hasn’t had as much European football as a lot of the top players in the continent, but he is only 23,” he admitted.
“But in two or three years’ time I’m sure no-one will question his ability in the Champions League as the more he plays in Europe, the more he will show his talents.
“All I can say is that we are bringing a player who has shown incredible improvement this term and is in fine goal scoring form.”
Roma (probable): Doni; Cicinho, Mexes, Panucci, Cassetti; De Rossi, Pizarro, Taddei, Aquilani, Mancini; Vucinic
Manchester United (probable): Van Der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Hargreaves, Scholes, Anderson; Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs
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