Could AS Roma finally put some smiles on the tifosi in the Curva Sud of the ever decreasing fortress of the Stadio Olimpico?

The answer, yes but not without a scare.

AS Roma went into this game without Rodrigo Taddei, Daniele De Rossi and Marco Cassetti, who were all suspended.  Furthermore, the Gialorossi were still without ‘el captiano’, Francesco Totti and on loan defender Nicolas Burdisso. 

It was Emiliano Viviano who was called into early action with saves from John Arne Riise and Mirko Vucinic.  Jeremy Menez wasted a good opportunity, blazing the ball over the bar after good work from Simone Perrotta. 

Despite AS Roma being on top during the opening exchanges, it was Bologna who took a shock lead against the capital club.  Martin Petrov lookalike (seriously check this guy out) Martins Adailton, rolled the ball into an empty net after smart play from Marco Di Vaio.  There was also some good hustling from Nicola Mingazzini to dispossess Chilean David Pizzaro in the centre circle.

A quick response was needed from AS Roma and they got it through Montengrin Vucinic, although there was controversy.  There was a scramble in the box after John Arne Riise’s cross, after it eventually fell to Vucinic who finished desptie looking as if he was in an offside position.  Maybe this was the break that AS Roma has been looking for?

There was more bad news for AS Roma as Brazilian defender; Juan limped off at half time to be replaced by Marco Andreolli. 

It didn’t take long for AS Roma to get going in the second half with Frenchman Jeremy Menez going on an impressive solo run which ended up in Emiliano Viviano parrying into the path of the onrushing Simone Perrotta who couldn’t miss from six yards. 

AS Roma found themselves in a position that had become rare in recent weeks, being in front!  It was a surprise when they held out comfortably with forty minutes remaining with the Bologna front line disappointing while attempting to take the game to the Gialorossi.

This victory would keep the AS Roma faithful happy for a week ahead of the difficult trip to the San Siro to face the mighty Inter Milan.

Both teams went into this game on equal points, and in disappointing positions, in the wrong half of the table for two clubs that achieved recent success in terms of Serie A. 

Udinese started with their familiar trident formation and attacking nature with Italian international Antonio Di Natale spearheading the Zebrette.  Raineri decided to give Mirko Vucinic another chance to get his season going with successive starts with Simone Perrotta playing just behind the Montenegrin.

AS Roma had the first chance with a neat cutback from Vucinic to last seasons revelation, Matteo Brighi who contacted well but Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovic saved well, low to his right hand side.

The accurate Gaetano D’Agostino then delivered one of his trademark free kicks, which Anotnio Floro Flores connected with and left Alexander Doni static as it sailed into his top right hand corner.  You could have forgiven AS Roma caving in to the home side, but they fought back with true Roman pride, albeit through a scrappy goal from stand-in captain Daniele De Rossi, tapping in a rebound from all of three yards!! It was a harsh blow on Udinese who should have been 2-0 up courtesy of Ghanian international Kwadawo Asamoah, but he was indecisive when one on one with Alexander Doni.

AS Roma had the chance to take the lead before half time with former Udinese player Marco Motta chesting down a long ball from Daniele De Rossi.  It was a narrow angle but Motta unleashed a bullet which was saved superbly by the impressive Handanovic.  Asamoah then again threatened at the oher end with a stinging shot that skimmed the top of the bar.

The second half did not start well for the Giallorossi with Rodrigo Taddei complaining to the linesman about an apparent elbow from Gokhan Inler.  He was duly sent off for dissent by referee Damato.  The match soon became ten against ten with Dusan Basta committing a cynical foul on a frustrated Vucinic.

Despite Udinese going down to ten men, they rallied and it was Floro Flores again, this time with the delivery from Di Natale.  It was a powerful header but one that Alexander Doni is capable of keeping out, instead the ball squirmed under his arms to give Udinese the lead with just six minutes left on the clock.

There was no way back for a flustered AS Roma, who are now without a win in three their last three competitive games.

Well well well, Francesco Tavano did prove to be the difference between the sides at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon.  A crisp shot from the corner of the box was the only goal in a dissapointing result for the Giallorossi.  It was the Spaniards first goal of the season, and a very sweet one, as he has been ridiculed for his troubled spell at the capital club.

Roma threatened throughout the match, but Mirko Vucinic still doesnt have his shooting boots on with two glaring misses despite some neat bulid up play from Daniele De Rossi and the ever improving Stefano Guberti.

There were many other chances for AS Roma, particularly Simone Perrota’s chance set up by the rampant John Arne Riise but Alfonso De Lucia saved smartly to his right hand post.  Soon after Francesco Tavano dealt the Roman’s a sucker blow with his powerful strike from the edge of the box which beat Alexander Doni at his near post.  The fans were not happy at half time, and they made there feelings clear to the players while going down the tunnel for a roasting from Claudio Raineri. 

Five minutes into the second half, Nicolas Burdisso, the diminutive Argentinian, missed a routine header at the back post from a Rodrigo Taddei corner.  Burdisso was visibly enraged at himself for missing the chance to pull AS Roma level early in the second half.  This feeling was echoed but the AS Roma faithful when Vucinic failed with two clear cut chances.

A ludicrous red card was then witnessed with Alfonso De Lucia being booked for time wasting while waiting to take a bye kick, after learning this he was incensed which led to the goalkeeper kicking the ball away as he was given the yellow card, the referee turned around and then sent him off.  Francesco Benussi came on for the unlucky Nico Pulzetti who was sacrificed because of De Lucia’s sending off.

Roma continued to threaten but never looked like breaking through a resiliant defence that included former Inter Milan defender Fabio Galante.  There was also a towering performance from Croatian international Dario Knezevic.

Serse Cosmi wins on his debut against the club he has supported all of his life, certainly a story for the morning Italian papers.  Cosmi was’nt getting carried away though, “we achieved something particularly difficult, but not impossible, seeing as football has taught us anything can happen,”.  Cosmi sticks to his ultimate belief that ‘anything can happen’ in the beautiful game.

Claudio Raineri takes a very different approach, claiming that “it’s not easy playing without a hitman like Totti”.  The captain was sidelined for this fixture an Ranieri obviously thinks that AS Roma cannot operate without the Roman legend. 

It was not about to get easier for the Giallorossi as they visit Udinese in midweek, a side that is equal in points with AS Roma in a tight section of the Serie A table.  Livorno would look to bulid on their win in the capital with a winnable home tie against struggling Atalanta.

Totti Setback

Despite what I reported at the weekend, Francesco Totti will requre surgery on his troublesome right knee, the injury which has caused him to miss countless games over the past three years.  With “el capitano” being an integral part of the starting eleven, it is causing AS Roma some problems on the pitch as they are without a win since week 7 against Southern rivals Napoli.  The irony in that victory was that it was a double from Totti that sealed the win, sure signs that they are missing their captain.

There is no return date set for the captain although he is certain to miss out on the midweek trip north to Udine.  An AS Roma team sheet without Totti is priceless to the opposing manager, who then senses a chance to defeat AS Roma.

Not surprisingly, Livorno decided midweek that former player, Gennaro Ruotolo had overstayed his welcome at the Tuscan club, this time as head coach.  Former Udinese and Perugia boss Serse Cosmi is the man that Presdient Aldo Spinelli thinks has the ability to turn around Livorno’s early season problems.  This is an interseting match for the enigmatic Cosmi to start with as he is openly a fan of AS Roma.

Both sides suffered unlucky 2-1 defeats at the hands of AC Milan and Palermo in Week 8.  An injury time winner from Federico Balzaretti confounded Livorno to their 5th defeat of the season whereas AS Roma were pipped by AC Milan, aided by the awarding of a controversial penalty which changed the momentum of the game after AS Roma took an early lead at the San Siro.   

AS Roma are still without their captain, Francesco Totti, although their was good news for Totti in midweek, surgery on his troubled right knee will not be required this time around.  The Giallorossi are also without Alessio Cerci, Max Tonetto and reserve goalkeeper Julio Sergio. 

Claudio Raineri is likely to make several changes from the 1-1 draw against Fulham in the Europa League midweek.  Despite Jeremy Menez missing a penalty, he is likely to lead the line against Livorno with the misfiring Mirko Vucinic.  If Raineri risks him, this could be a chance for Stefano Guberti, a summer signing from Serie B side Ascoli, to shine.  He has been limited to three substitute appereances in Serie A this season despite playing an important role in Roma’s Europa League campaign. 

Whatever lineup Raineri chooses, this is a chance for players to cement their place in an ever changing side.

Livorno are sweating on the fitness of Francesco Tavano, who picked up an injury against Palermo last weekend.  Although he is yet to score this season, Tavano is capable of silencing the Curva Sud of the Stadio Olimpico.  If  Tavano doesnt make it, Serse Cosmi could play Antonio Candreva in a more advanced role.  Nelson Rivas, who is on loan from Inter Milan, and Mozart are the only certainties to miss out for the Grifone. 

Livorno need their talisman, Cristiano Lucarelli to stand up this season.  He is the undoubted leader of this team although there is sometimes an over reliance from the Livorno bench.  Lucarelli has one solitary goal this season, a consialtion against Napoli, but the former Italian international is capable of causing the Roman defence some problems on Sunday afternoon.

Sillyboy1 predicts: Roma 2 Livorno 0