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Background

AS Roma reached the last eight for the first time since 1984 and the era of the European Cup, simultaneously ending Lyon's 18-match unbeaten home record in the UEFA Champions League, becoming the first European visitors to win at the Stade de Gerland since 2002,

The Romans have clashed against English foes on eight occasions, winning four, drawing two and losing the other two.  The most recent skirmish dates back to last season when they downed Middlesbrough FC 2-1 at the Stadio Olímpico in the UEFA Cup last 16, turning over a Hasselbaink goal to win via a Mancini brace.

Despite the win the Italians were out thanks to the away goal netted by the Dutch forward combining with the 1-0 win in England.  The defeat marked Roma's third in a row over two-legged knockout bouts with English clubs, contrasting with United's record of two victories and five defeats in fixtures with Serie A outfits.

The peak of clashes with EPL sides came the same year that Roma last made a European Cup/Champions League quarter-final: 1984.  Roma faced Liverpool FC at the Olímpico in the 1984 European Champion Clubs' Cup final.

Phil Neal opened the scoring for Liverpool at the Roman footballing coliseum but Roma's Roberto Pruzzo squared things off leading to an eventual spot kick finale.  The Merseysiders ended up taking the honours as one of the best Reds sides lifted the trophy in Rome.
 
There’s a further link with England as Roma defenders Panucci and Ferrari had short stints in the EPL with Chelsea and Everton respectively. Panucci didn’t have much luck in the 2000/01 season but did play in a 3-3 draw at United in September 2000, but Ferrari didn’t play United during his time at Everton last season.

Roma also boast a nine-match unbeaten run at the Olímpico in European competition, the Italians last going down at home in Europe in December 2004 when Real Madrid thrashed their hosts 0-3– Roma’s worst defeat on home turf against continental opposition.

United went through by beating Lille with a controversial – yet entirely legal – Ryan Giggs late free-kick in France and a Henrik Larsson coup de grace at Old Trafford just before the Swede’s  return to Helsingborg.

The bad news for visiting fans is that United have won two and lost two of their four away clashes in this season's Champions League. They beat SL Benfica 1-0 in September (first away win in the Cup since November 2003) but fell by the minimum at both Celtic and Copenhagen, not the best retrospective given that they’ve won just 2 out of their last 12 games away.

As far as Italy is concerned, it could hardly be described as a talismanic setting for Man U as they’ve only won two and lost eight.  Fate seems to be rolling eights for the team from Old Trafford as it also took eight attempts to record an away win against Italian opposition.

That was all changed with a tough 2-3 win over Juventus in the 1999 semi-final – and could be considered something of an omen: Manchester United going on to win their second piece of elite European silverware at Camp Nou with a memorable comeback against Bayern.

Their last Italian opponents were AC Milan in 2004/05, United losing 2-0 on aggregate with a Hernan Crespo goal turfing the English out in Milan, and this will be their first trip to Rome’s cavernous Olímpico stadium, although ex-Leeds striker Alan Smith did score for his old club in 2000 against Lazio, also coming on as a sub when Leeds won 0-1 against Roma in the 1999/00 UEFA Cup fourth round.

Psych Wars

Much has been made of pre-match psych games, although it's hardly rough stuff, Roma players having adopted the tactic of laying the ground for a focus on annoying the opposition with taunts about their number 7’s tendency to go horizontal when touched – and be protected by sympathetic refs – as well as English football and, yes, the good ol’ British weather.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s flair for swimming pool acrobatics was explored by ex-Chelsea man Panucci. "Ronaldo’s class is unquestionable. But I believe he abuses his dribbling talents and always exaggerates his falls. A lot will depend on the referee but in Roma Ronaldo will not be daring enough to do it because he knows we will not fall for his tricks."

Roma’s versatile Brazilian Mancini added to the ribbing that the number 7 fakes his fouls. "Ronaldo is almost perfect at dribbling but Italian defenders are harder and he will be taking a big risk if he tries any exhibition stuff. I’ve watched Premier League matches and he is protected by referees. I don’t think he will be on Wednesday."

Totti was evidently piqued by the Manchester United tactician forgetting who he was.  "Ferguson, you will learn who Totti is”, Totti told Italian satellite station SKY. “He will see personally. I hope to make him remember my name”, he added with relish.

When asked if he’d ever consider playing in England the Roma Captain was acidly negative.  “I've never liked English football, even if there are some great players there. I don't like England either because the weather is gloomy," he added, although not mentioning the food...

Roma’s Luciano Spalletti is confident his players are in good heart despite the 1-1 draw with Milan in Serie A on Saturday that left Inter even closer to the 2006-7 Scudetto.  "My men have done what they had to do.”

“We showed ourselves to be in a good fitness condition and this is a pleasure for me and will give us the right stimulus that will help us face such an important match like the one against Manchester United on Wednesday.

AS Roma

The Giallorossi (Yellow-Reds, a.k.a. ‘La Magica’ – The Magic – or ‘Il Lupi’ – The Wolves) have had a good year in Serie A, although not without its frustrations, and this has been reflected in the commendable Champions League campaign – and recognisable tactical make-up.

Under Luciano Spalletti, at the Roman club since 2005, Roma have managed to jockey for the top spots in Serie A again, although it took the tactician a baptism of fire to be finally accepted into Roman hearts.

Roma broke the Serie A record with 11 wins in a row on the 26th February 2006, leapfrogging the previous best of 10 straight attained by Juventus (1931-1932), AC Milan (1950- 1951) and Bologna (1963-1964).
 
The Giallorossi broke the record without Captain Francesco Totti, who watched the game from the terraces after snapping his ankle in the 1-0 victory over Empoli last season. 

Although that has since been eclipsed by Inter’s current conquering run towards the Scudetto (Shield – the Italian League trophy), its is a mark that many see as fundamental to Roma as the point that the current squad really began to gel.

Spalletti has since stayed faithful to a 4-2-3-1 system, although this is flexible and may morph into a 4-3-3 depending on whether or not Roma have possession, the players being used, the scoreline and the time. 

Against Olympique Lyon he used a 4-4-3: Doni; Cassetti, Tonetto, Mexes, Chivu; De Rossi, Pizarro, Perrotta; Taddei, Mancini, Totti, although this weekend in Serie A he used a different formation.

In the Serie A draw with AC Milan at the Olímpico Spalletti used a 4-2-3-1: Doni; Cassetti, Mexes, Chivu, Panucci; De Rossi, Pizarro; Wilhelmsson (Perrotta 67 min), Taddei, Mancini (Tavano 84 min); Totti (Vučinić 81 min)

There is a slim chance that he’ll move towards a 4-1-3-2 given the home edge, the change seeing De Rossi alone as ‘Kaiser’ of the holding midfield with Pizarro moving forward, Totti partnered in attack by Mancini (fairly rare), Taddei (rare), Vučinić (rarer) or Chuka (even rarer).

The Coach’s initial defensive slant has been changed to a more attacking philosophy which can propel the Giallorossi into some stunning attacking displays.  The squad has sufficient depth in all positions, although the lack of what could be described as an out-and-out number 9 is glaring.

Even the number itself is untaken, the closest to a classic number 9 being Mirko Vučinić, although the Montenegrin hasn’t been able to carve himself a first team place since arriving from Lecce this summer after an impressive 29 goals at Lecce.

The substitution this weekend was typical: Spalletti trusting in Totti until the bitter end rather than bring the number 23 on.  Therefore Roma tend to operate with Totti being flanked by a combination of Taddei, Mancini, Wilhelmsson, Perrotta and Tavano.

Both Taddei and Tavano give a more offensive slant, but Spalletti has rarely fielded both together as his first choice partnership and the ex-Valencia player wasn’t inscribed into the competition, Taddei and Mancini tending to hog the action as both Brazilians dovetail well, netting 13 goals in domestic Serie A action and a further 2 in Europe.

The versatile Ashton-under-Lyme born Perrotta has been a regular as well – either pushed forward or pulled back – and showed his teeth with six goals in Italy and 1 in the Champions League and has been a solid base in Spalletti’s line-ups.

In terms of usage so far, Spalletti has used Perrotta (599 min) 8 times, Taddei 7 (629 min), Mancini 5 (447 min), whereas the fringe players are Wilhelmsson with one short (14 min) appearance and Nigerian number 35 Okaka Chuka, the striker appearing twice for a total of 27 minutes.

The two-man holding midfield has been dominated by Daniele De Rosi (8 appearances, 705 min) and David Pizarro (6 appearances, 409 min) with Perrotta spending some of his playing minutes down in the two-man holding rather than three-man attacking midfield.  On the outside is Alquilani (5 appearances, 345 min).

Given the unavailability of Max Tonetto, Spalletti will probably improvise Christian Panucci in the left-back position – a potential Achilles Heel for the Giallorossi, but the player has been used on the flip side of the pitch before and wasn’t found wanting.

That leaves the probable line-up looking as follows: Doni; Cassetti, Ferrari, Mexes, Panucci (improvised on the left as he has been five times so far this year); De Rossi, Pizarro; Taddei, Perrotta, Mancini; Totti.

This should see both wide backs (Panucci and Cassetti) overlapping with Taddei and Mancini, although probably with the emphasis on full-back defense rather than wing-back offensiveness unless the United flanks welcome forward runs. 

De Rossi should be the anchor from behind with Pizarro pushing more forward, the Italian international also able to sweep from behind Ferrari and Mexes should the need arise.  Both centre-backs are on song, Mexes having shown his offensive power with a great goal against Milan and both have been receiving rave reviews for their solidity this season.

The creative midfield will probably see Mancini and Taddei giving a touch of Samba to the attacking flanks, the former skewed off left – although originally a right-sided player in Brazil – and the ex-Palmeiras man playing the right.  If Tavano is fielded then he’ll probably take the left slot, Mancini likely to be moved over to the right.

It seems like Perrotta will be fielded in the middle, capable of either pushing forward and scoring as his record has shown, or of dropping back to interlace with left-sided Pizarro and right-sided De Rossi in a reinforced holding midfield, meaning that lone wolf Totti will form part of the attacking trident in a 4-3-3 rather than roaming up front in search of assists.

Much will depend on the midfield battle that should see Scholes, Carrick and O’Shea facing off against the Roman threesome of Perrotta, Pizarro and De Rossi as without assists from the midfield, Totti will be starved of passes and forced to hunt down long balls or get the wing-backs moving forward and leaving gaps in the Giallorossi rearguard.

With hindsight and a specific look back at the last Euro clash at the Olímpico against Olympique Lyon, it seems certain that Spalletti will be willing to risk precious little.  The main objective will be keeping a clean sheet – even at the expense of both attacking and attractive football.

Manchester United

It’s been a good season for The Red Devils, showing Chelsea the rear end of their shorts as opposed the other way round as its been for the past two years in England.  When combined with a good Champions League campaign so far, Man U are enjoying a period of relatively serene progress.

The contrast with last season is palpable in Europe, the humiliating 4th placed Group D exit coming after an unimpressive 0-2 aggregate elimination by AC Milan in 2004-5 and 2-3 by Porto in 2003-4 – both in the last sixteen.  The last quarter-final appearance dates back to the dramatic 5-6 defeat against Real Madrid in the 2002-3 season.

This does give an urgency to Fergie’s men, while the old dog himself seems to have gained a second wind after seriously considering hanging his anorak up.  The tactician is in the best position to make it into a semi-final since the 5-2 aggregate slamming of Spain’s Depor in the 2001-02 season.

That edition ended so frustratingly with a semi-final away goals elimination by Bayer Leverkusen, the Germans going on to lose 1-2 against Real Madrid in Glasgow in what many fierce Red Devils really believe could have been their third European Cup.

The only things rocking the boat this year have been the bombardment of rumours over Cristiano Ronaldo’s future destination and Rooney’s form with precious little for the testy tactician to kick boots around the Old Trafford dressing room.

Fergie’s system is as weather-beaten and weatherproof as the fiery old Scot himself, a staid 4-4-2 that can be varied slightly according to how the Man U manager sees his opponent.  This could be either a into a 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-3.

The 4-4-1-1 was seen against Bolton in the recent 17th of March EPL 4-1 win over the Wanderers (Kuszczak; Heinze, Vidic, Ferdinand and Neville/Brown; Ronaldo/Smith, O’Shea, Carrick, Ji-sung Park; Giggs/Richardson; Rooney), so may still be in the forefront of Sir Alex’s mind.

The other variant, a 4-3-3, was last used to kick Lille out of the CL last sixteen (van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre; Scholes, Carrick, O’Shea; Ronaldo/ Richardson, Larsson/ Smith and Rooney/Ji-sung Park), although the first away leg was a 4-4-2 (van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Scholes/O’Shea, Carrick, Giggs, Ronaldo/Saha; Larsson and Rooney).

With any away goals being a potential door-opener to either the street or the semi-final, the Red Devils need to turn up the heat in Rome and come away with at least one away goal – even at the expense of keeping a clean sheet. 

Leaving it all to Old Trafford may be exciting, but damn the excitement as long as away goals – even scrappy, messy ones – can be bagged.  Fergie wants to see the recent burst of scoring that’s netted two 4-1 wins carry on into Europe – and into the semi-finals.

Given that urgent panorama it seems like the onus is on the front line to score, although Rooney’s three goals in thirteen appearances caused some worry until the recent brace against Bolton, although the number 9 lucked out against Blackburn.

This has meant that United has been seeing other scorers like Park, who scored three out of the lat eight goals netted by United, and a Cristiano Ronaldo who’s rippled nets an impressive 16 times so far this EPL season.  Top Euro striker Louis Saha (4 goals) may miss the match, but there's still time for the Frenchman to make the date.