Roma looking for revenge

By Tom Kington

AS Roma will tackle UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid CF hoping for a better result than when they met at the same stage of the competition last season.

Defeat in opener
On Matchday 1 of the 2001/02 edition of Europe's premier club competition, Madrid were 2-1 winners in the Italian capital. Roma will want to perform better on Tuesday, but had the worst possible preparation with a 2-1 defeat by Bologna FC in their Serie A opener on Saturday.

'Intensity, anger and will'
Roma coach Fabio Capello will have no trouble in motivating his side against his former club after last year's disappointment when they failed to go beyond the second group stage. "I will be looking for more intensity, anger and will from the players, something which should allow us to give a performance of the highest level against Madrid," he said.

Unexpected delays
A delay to the Italian season caused by protracted TV rights negotiatons has given Roma little chance to get into their stride, a fate shared by Madrid, whose first league fixture at Real Betis Balompié at the weekend was cut short after 44 minutes by floodlight failure.

Divine inspiration
But whereas Capello has been instilling intensity in his troops, Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque was seeking inspiration of another kind by taking his team to a pre-match audience with the Pope in Rome on Monday. New signing Ronaldo was absent, after remaining in Spain to continue training, a point dwelled on by an Italian media mindful of the hot reception the Brazilian might have received in Italy so soon after leaving Internazionale FC in the close season.

Imposing wall
Roma will be without several key men for the Group C encounter, including captain Francesco Totti, Francisco Lima and veteran Argentinian striker Gabriel Batistuta, all suspended after scuffles with Galatasaray SK players following a Champions League match in Rome last season. In their absence Vincenzo Montella and 20-year-old Antonio Cassano will play up front, but they will find themselves up against an imposing defensive wall in Fernando Hierro and Iván Helguera.

Guardiola useful
"Cassano and Montella are certain for the match," said Capello. "They're small and Madrid's defenders are large so you can be sure we'll be keeping the ball on the ground." Backing up the Roma midfield could be new purchase Josep Guardiola, who Capello said would bring an important knowledge of Spanish football to the side from his time as captain of FC Barcelona.

Party time?
No experience, however, may be enough to stop Madrid as they push for their third Champions League titles in four seasons, but Capello believed the onus was on the visitors. "If you lose to them it is to be expected," he said, "but if you win it is party time."