It’s a battle for Europe between Rodrigo Palacio and Marko Livaja’s Inter and the Roma Totti-Osvaldo-Lamela trident.
This is also a homecoming for ex-Roma youth academy Coach Andrea Stramaccioni, who is a native of the Eternal City.
It’s a battle for Europe between Rodrigo Palacio and Marko Livaja’s Inter and the Roma Totti-Osvaldo-Lamela trident.
This is also a homecoming for ex-Roma youth academy Coach Andrea Stramaccioni, who is a native of the Eternal City.
Both sides went to extra time this week in the Coppa Italia and will face each other again next Wednesday in the semi-final first leg in this stadium.
The Nerazzurri must do without Antonio Cassano, Diego Milito, Walter Samuel, Philippe Coutinho, Ricky Alvarez, Dejan Stankovic and Luca Castellazzi.
Yuto Nagatomo is surprisingly picked in midfield, leaving Esteban Cambiasso and Marco Benassi on the bench.
Wesley Sneijder continues to be frozen out while he considers a move to Galatasaray.
The Giallorossi have injury concerns for Francesco Totti, but the captain and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo return to the starting XI.
Miralem Pjanic had a fitness test before kick-off, as he has been suffering from flu over the last few days, and was only given the go-ahead for a spot on the bench.
This tie last ended in a Serie A draw back in March 2006, followed by three wins each.
Roma: 13 Goicoechea; 23 Piris, 3 Marquinhos, 5 Castan, 42 Balzaretti; 48 Florenzi, 16 De Rossi, 4 Bradley; 8 Lamela, 9 Osvaldo, 10 Totti
Roma bench: 24 Stekelenburg, 1 Lobont, 7 Marquinho, 11 Taddei, 15 Pjanic, 20 Perrotta, 22 Destro, 27 Dodò, 29 Burdisso, 77 Tachtsidis
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 23 Ranocchia, 26 Chivu, 40 Juan Jesus; 55 Nagatomo, 4 Zanetti, 21 Gargano, 31 Pereira; 14 Guarin; 8 Palacio, 88 Livaja
Inter bench: 27 Belec, 77 Di Gennaro, 6 Silvestre, 16 Mudingayi, 17 Mariga, 18 Rocchi, 19 Cambiasso, 20 Obi, 24 Benassi, 41 Duncan, 42 Jonathan, 82 Bessa