Soccer: Euro showdown in Florence
Soccer: Euro showdown in Florence Fiorentina, Roma fight for place in Champions League (ANSA) - Florence, March 31 - The contenders for Italy's last Champions League slot, Fiorentina and AS Roma, face off here in the Serie A big match Sunday afternoon .The home team are fourth in the standings and currently hold the qualification spot for European soccer's big time next season and the cash bonanza that entails .
But Roma are just one point behind in fifth. So with seven games to go, much is riding on the showdown's outcome. "It will be a great event and we'll try to honour it on the field," said Fiorentina midfielder Cristian Brocchi .
"The result will not decide who qualifies for the Champions League, but the winner will gain strength, most of all in terms of morale". The encounter may be marked by an imbalance in one key area - while Fiorentina has Luca Toni, the league's top scorer, leading the attack, Roma are without injured strikers Francesco Totti, Vincenzo Montella and Shabani Nonda .
So coach Luciano Spalletti will either have to field a midfielder up front, or gamble on 16-year-old talent Stefano Okaka .
Brocchi does not feel Roma will be handicapped by this though .
"Playing without strikers has been lucky for them (of late)," the former AC Milan star said .
"They have become unpredictable as a result and that should be praised" .
Indeed, Spalletti has proven skilled at juggling his injury-ravaged squad and even managed to notch up a run of 11 consecutive wins recently - a Serie A record .
"I predict it will be a well-balanced match," added Brocchi .
"Fiorentina have a slight advantage because we have Toni and are playing at home, where we have always made the most of our performances in front of our home crowd" .
Fiorentina has won 14 of the 16 games it has played in Florence so far .
The two sides are delighted to be in a position to tussle for a Champions League slot, after having shaves with relegation last year .
Fiorentina had the better half to the season, but has lost a little momentum recently. Roma, in contrast, recovered from a disastrous start with that record-breaking run of victories .
"Both Fiorentina and us have worked very well, achieving important results and reversing the previous situations," said Spalletti .
"Given the way they have performed in the championship and the balance between the sides, both teams deserve a place in the Champions League" .
Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli - who was in charge of Roma briefly before the start of the 2004-2005 season, but quit for personal reasons - regains defenders Marco Di Loreto, Dario Dainelli and midfielder Marco Donadel from suspension .
The top three clubs, meanwhile, are in action Saturday evening to give them a day's extra rest in view of next week's Champions League quarter-final second legs. And they all take on sides that are in the relegation zone .
After Tuesday's traumatic 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in Europe, Juventus are seeking to recover composure and protect their eight-point league lead with a win away to bottom club Treviso .
Coach Fabio Capello will also be looking for better discipline. Capello is unable to field Pavel Nedved Saturday because the former European Footballer of the Year was sent off in last week's 1-1 draw with Roma. What's more, Mauro Camoranesi and Jonathan Zebina will be unavailable for the return against Arsenal, after being red-carded Tuesday, along with midfielder Patrick Vieira, who was booked .
Treviso have not tasted victory for 15 games .
Second-placed Milan are expected to rest a number of players for the visit to Lecce (19th), so they are fresh for Tuesday's clash with Lyon .
Inter, which are third, five points behind their cross-town rival, welcome Messina (18th) to the San Siro Stadium. On Sunday afternoon, Chievo Verona (6th) play host to Livorno (8th) in an encounter that is important for the destiny of Italy's final UEFA Cup qualification spot (in Chievo's hands at the moment). Livorno's form has collapsed of late, with the team losing the last four league outings .
Another UEFA Cup hopeful, Lazio (7th), entertains an Empoli side (15th) that has won its last three fixtures .
Ascoli (12th) travel to Sicily to take on Palermo (9th), while Parma (10th) pay a visit to struggling Udinese (17th). Sampdoria (11th) aim to end a six-match losing streak on Sunday against Cagliari (16th) in Genoa. Reggina (14th) host Siena (13th) in the weekend's other match .
LZ明显考验了我的Y文能力,结果我越来越退步了 <P>加油啊，呵呵，这样以后就不用翻译了</P>
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