TOW
02-20-2007, 06:13 AM
Roma appear in the Champions League as a result of the Italian match-fixing scandal, having finished fifth in Serie A last season, 22 points behind Juventus. This was despite stringing together a record 11 consecutive wins. Though failing to attract any of the big names in the exodus from Juventus, the Wolves are benefiting from the points penalties that were handed out, which should see them reappear in this competition next year.
Roma have been handed a tough draw in the shape of Olympique Lyon, favourites to land a sixth straight Champions League title. Though Roma’s side includes three members of the Italian World Cup winning squad, the team is short on star quality. The Wolves are heavily dependant on captain, Francesco Totti, and the solid defensive pairing of Philippe Mexes and Cristian Chivu, the spine of coach Luciano Spalletti’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system.
Roma were probably a little fortunate that in the crucial final group game, Valencia fielded a weakened side, having already topped the section. This is the Italian club’s first ever foray into the knock-out phase, in their last CL campaign they earned a single point from six games.
Lyon have been knocking on the door of European glory playing exhilarating attacking football, and paying no respect to reputation. First under Paul Le Guen, and now Gerrard Houllier, Lyon have reached three consecutive quarter-finals, and were four minutes away from beating Milan last time around. In this campaign, Lyon topped Group E ahead of Real Madrid, who they beat at the Stade de Gerland for the second consecutive season. Despite amassing a comfortable lead in Ligue 1, Lyon have stuttered in the new year going three games without a win, and exiting the French Cup at the hands of Marseille.
To qualify: Roma 2.69; Lyon 1.559 with PinnacleSports.com (http://tracking.pinnaclesports.com/cgi-bin/rr.cgi/R2_EMBED_PARAMS/onlinewire/20061026a/200610261057001/http://www.pinnaclesports.com/default.asp?language=English&LExt=egl&refer=xtower1)
Roma have been handed a tough draw in the shape of Olympique Lyon, favourites to land a sixth straight Champions League title. Though Roma’s side includes three members of the Italian World Cup winning squad, the team is short on star quality. The Wolves are heavily dependant on captain, Francesco Totti, and the solid defensive pairing of Philippe Mexes and Cristian Chivu, the spine of coach Luciano Spalletti’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system.
Roma were probably a little fortunate that in the crucial final group game, Valencia fielded a weakened side, having already topped the section. This is the Italian club’s first ever foray into the knock-out phase, in their last CL campaign they earned a single point from six games.
Lyon have been knocking on the door of European glory playing exhilarating attacking football, and paying no respect to reputation. First under Paul Le Guen, and now Gerrard Houllier, Lyon have reached three consecutive quarter-finals, and were four minutes away from beating Milan last time around. In this campaign, Lyon topped Group E ahead of Real Madrid, who they beat at the Stade de Gerland for the second consecutive season. Despite amassing a comfortable lead in Ligue 1, Lyon have stuttered in the new year going three games without a win, and exiting the French Cup at the hands of Marseille.
To qualify: Roma 2.69; Lyon 1.559 with PinnacleSports.com (http://tracking.pinnaclesports.com/cgi-bin/rr.cgi/R2_EMBED_PARAMS/onlinewire/20061026a/200610261057001/http://www.pinnaclesports.com/default.asp?language=English&LExt=egl&refer=xtower1)