Roma vs Milan

Predicted XI:

----------------------Abby
----------Abate---Rami---Mexes---Constant
--------Montolivo----YayaMuntari--
-----Poli--------------Kaka-----------Taarabt
----------------------Balo

Honda has just returned according to Seedorf and is unlikely to start.

Destro, Strootman and Benatia are out for Roma.


Game is tailor-made for Muntari, he has bossed Iniesta, Pirlo and Borja. No reason he shouldn't boss Punic and co

I want everyone to observe the difference between a top team and a scrub team in that chart above. You'll see it in the assists column...

Roma #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 = Total: 37
Milan #6 # 7 = Total: 10

Balzaretti is also still missing for Roma.

Roma's full matchday squad: De Sanctis, Lobont, Skorupski; Castan, Dodò, Jedvaj, Maicon, Romagnoli, Toloi, Torosidis; Bastos, De Rossi, Florenzi, Mazzitelli, Nainggolan, Pjanic, Ricci, Taddei; Berisha, Gervinho, Ljajic, Totti

A traditionally challenging fixture, however Benatia's absence is a blessing for Balotelli, who was often able to draw fouls from Castan but was well marshalled in general play by the Moroccan. Strootman may be a long term absentee, however Nainggolan has been excellent in his stead. With De Jong suspended and Muntari likely to play, the midfield battle swings against us, particularly away from home where Roma will look to be aggressive and suffocate us early on.

It is imperative that either Abate or De Sciglio play to avoid a severe physical deficit at fullback when facing Gervinho. We go into this game on the back of an excellent run of results, however we still look a shadow of our previous selves. Whilst a slow start to games may not hurt us against the likes of Livorno, Roma are a team who can take the result away from us in five minutes. Whilst we will finally play a team willing to leave space in behind for us to attack, we have a critical weakness using the ball under pressure, with only Montolivo, Kaka and Poli really being able to take advantage of such situations. We were badly exposed on the transition against Napoli when we frequently gave the ball away with our first or second pass on the counter-attack whilst our team was pushing back up the pitch. Roma will definitely look to hurt us in the same manner.

Roma are an extremely difficult opponent to get a result from. I'm more concerned with our performance however. If Seedorf really wants us to be an attacking, expressive team in the future, he needs to start preparing the side to play through teams such as Roma and impose ourselves on the game. With a loose cannon such as Muntari in the side it becomes more difficult to command possession of the ball, however I still want to see our structures continue to develop in this game and Poli given a more coherent role.

I agree with you but I think if we ground out a win in such a big game it would do wonders for the players confidence regardless of if it looked good or not. That's not my general attitude, as you know, but for this game we could make an exception.

Good luck guys Hand us the scudetto after the match xD

OFFICIAL line-up vs. Roma (4-2-3-1): Abbiati; Bonera, Rami, Mexes, Constant; Montolivo, Muntari; Honda, Kakà, Taarabt; Balotelli.

Bonera

Why is Bonera starting ahead of Abate?

Kaka's stubble

Let's go

Kaka ffs

good defending from de rossi though

Mexes.....

Ljajic dancing around our defense

Roma dominating.

Balotelli

Balo.....disappointing stuff, should've shot..

balo smh

Balotelli come on now

Honda booked.

Pjanic

1-0

Respect to Pjanic, fantastic goal.

But still Rami Bonera

Disappointing 1st half, Balo should've took that chance ffs

And that poverty defending on Pjanic's goal

Went past Sully, Monty and Rami ffs

We don''t look like scoring at all. The game has already been lost, the team is so dire.

Montolivo ffs! We can't afford to miss these chances goddamit. What a ball from Kaka.

Oh wow Taarabt...