Real look to extend winning streak
Monday, February 18, 2008

Real Madrid and AS Roma each enter the second round of the Champions League coming off league losses.

Madrid blew a 1-0 lead in a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis and Roma was beat 1-0 by rival Juventus at the weekend.

"Tuesday's Champions League fixture against Roma will be a different game," Madrid coach Bernd Schuster said. "My men will be much more motivated for it."

Madrid has won each of its three previous games with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico — the last two by three-goal margins — but failed to win all three of its away games in the group phase of this season's competition.

Roma is unbeaten at home in this season's Champions League.

"We've got a chance to bounce back right away," Roma captain Francesco Totti said of the first-leg match. "We're facing a very strong squad, with a lot of champions. We've got to rely on our pride. We've all got to give something extra."

Totti has been playing through a back problem and pain in his right foot, the same foot he uses to take Roma's free kicks.

"Totti needs to rediscover his best form to be decisive against Real," England coach Fabio Capello said in an interview with Italian state radio RAI on Monday.

Capello is a former coach of both Roma and Madrid.

"I think Roma could do quite well. The only doubt is that whenever Real Madrid comes to Rome, it always plays very well," Capello added. "The men to stop are (Ruud) Van Nistelrooy and Guti (Jose Maria Gutierrez). If Roma pushes forward right away to score, that will make Real play the counterattack, which it's very good at."

Madrid, a nine-time European champion, has significant injury problems.

Forwards Robinho (stomach) and Wesley Sneijder (fractured rib), and defenders Pepe (leg) and Christoph Metzelder (leg) are all missing. Gabriel Heinze is expected to return in defense while forward Arjen Robben should get his first European start alongside fellow Dutchman Van Nistelrooy, who was only used as a substitute Saturday.

Raul Gonzalez is also expected to be available despite coming out of the defeat at Betis with a knock to his left leg.

Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani is regaining his form after a three-month layoff with a thigh injury and Juan could return in central defense after missing a month with a foot injury.

Aquilani and Christian Panucci scuffled in training on Sunday.

Attacking midfielder Ludovic could move back into Roma's starting lineup for Rodrigo Taddei, who played poorly against Juventus.

Totti's backup at forward, Mirko Vucinic, is also struggling with a minor problem.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti was in Madrid last week to witness Real's 7-0 win over Valladolid.

"It's going to be tough tactically," Spalletti said. "Real's players are all very skilled and our tactical choices will depend on which men they use."