Rome affairs

Roma-Lazio derby highlights Serie A weekend

ROME (AP) -- Milan's two teams share the top spot in the Italian league standings for the first time in 30 years. But the featured matchup this weekend will take place between the two Roman teams.

The capital's twice-yearly derby match will be the focus of attention Sunday night as Lazio hosts AS Roma in the Olympic Stadium that the two clubs share.

Unlike the last edition of the Roman derby, when Roma pounded Lazio 5-1, Sunday's game is shaping up to be a good matchup.

After starting the season with two straight defeats, Roma has won three straight and expects to have talented playmaker Francesco Totti back in its lineup.

Totti, who is Roman by birth and now a member of the favorite team of his youth, missed Roma's 3-1 win at Empoli last weekend, as well as Italy's two games the week before due to leg injuries.

Lazio is coming off a 3-0 win against Perugia last Sunday that included two goals from newly signed striker Enrico Chiesa. The 31-year-old Chiesa notched the 105th and 106th goals of his Serie A career and his first scores for Lazio since arriving from the now-defunct Fiorentina club, where he played the past three seasons.

Lazio's third win in five games moved the club into third place, one point ahead of Roma.

Lazio's good form has impressed its fans, who were preparing themselves for a miserable season after the club let its two best players leave on the eve of the season. Former captain and star defender Alessandro Nesta signed with AC Milan and top forward Hernan Crespo went to Inter Milan.

Roma's most recent match was a less-than inspiring 0-0 draw with Genk Tuesday night in the Champions League. But Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta, who was one of the few Roma players that came close to scoring against the Belgian side, said the lackluster showing would have no impact on Sunday.

"Any result would have made us prepare for the derby in the best way possible," he said. "We know the importance of this game for the fans, the rivalry with Lazio is historical."

One player who is very familiar with the derby's history is defender Giuseppe Favalli, now in his 11th season with Lazio.

"You can't forget that 5-1," Favalli said of the result of the last derby match in March that went heavily in Roma's favor. "There's an incredible want on our part to redeem ourselves."

Asked about the impact Totti's return would have on the match, Favalli responded by correctly naming the player who has hurt Lazio the most in recent derbies:

"I consider Totti a great player and the most dangerous of all," he said. "But if I have to pick someone that can't play, then I say Delvecchio."

Roma striker Marco Delvecchio has played sparingly of late due to various injuries. But he is expected to be available on the bench Sunday for coach Fabio Capello, who may decide to use him based solely on the fact that he has scored eight goals against Lazio in his career.

Milan's Filippo Inzaghi has scored eight goals this season in four Champions League matches, in addition to his six goals in league matches.

He's a big reason why Milan is tied atop the standings with its crosstown rival Inter.

Milan visits Chievo Saturday evening and could be boosted by the return of Ukrainian star Andriy Shevchenko, who has been out for more than two months following knee surgery.

Rivaldo, another of Milan's international strikers, will likely miss the match while tending to family matters at home in Brazil.

Inter hosts second-place Bologna and will have to quickly regain its focus after an exciting 3-3 Champions League draw with Lyon Wednesday night in France that included two goals from the Argentine Crespo.

On Saturday night, defending champion Juventus hosts Udinese and could field Marco Di Vaio alongside Alessandro Del Piero up front. Di Vaio was hurt in a head collision in a Champions League match a few weeks ago and sat out until Juve's 1-0 loss at Newcastle Wednesday.

The status of Juve's French striker David Trezeguet remained uncertain due to an aggravated injury.

Sunday's other matches are: Brescia vs. Como, Parma vs. Atalanta, Perugia vs. Modena, Piacenza vs. Empoli and Reggina vs. Torino.

Empoli, Reggina advance in Italian Cup

ROME (AP) -- Second-half substitute Francesco Tavano's 90th-minute goal against Torino Thursday sent Empoli to the second round of the Italian Cup.

Tavano's score off a counterattack gave the Tuscan squad a 2-1 win over the Turin team and Empoli advanced on a 3-2 aggregate score.

Empoli will face Lazio of Rome in the second round beginning Dec. 4.

In the only other game Thursday, Reggina lost at Modena 2-1 in another matchup of two Serie A sides, but advanced on the away-goals rule after winning the first leg 1-0.

Midfielder Francesco Cozza scored the decisive goal for Reggina in the 58th minute with Modena up 2-0. Reggina next faces defending league champion Juventus.

On Thursday, Vicenza's Paolo Cristallini scored a golden goal to eliminate defending champion Parma.

Four other Serie A sides were also eliminated Thursday, as Piacenza was the only team from the top flight to advance, joined by Serie B clubs Sampdoria, Ancona, Bari, Vicenza and Triestina.

The top eight finishers in Serie A last season had first-round byes and will not begin play until the next round of the competition in December.

Upbeat Milan eyes double challenge

Carlo Ancelotti's side have made an outstanding start to the season, unbeaten in Serie A and winning four games out of four in a tough Champions League group.

Portuguese midfielder Rui Costa, back to his best after an injury-plagued first season at Milan, says that after Wednesday's 2-1 win over Bayern Munich, the team have their sights set on a long run in the Champions League.

"One of our main objectives is to go all the way, we have never denied that. But let's see -- it is a very long road ahead of us. We have the hope, though, and the knowledge that we can do it," the midfielder told reporters at the club's Milanello training centre.

"Competing in both competitions is very difficult. You have to adapt to the rhythm of playing every four days and at a very high and intense level. It is tough but we have shown that physically we can cope with it," said the former Fiorentina player.

The prolific goal-scoring of striker Filippo Inzaghi has been instrumental to Milan's scorching start -- the former Juventus forward has struck 10 times in six games in Europe and has also claimed six goals in four Serie A appearances.

"He has always scored a lot of goals," said Rui Costa, "But what we are seeing now is something special.

"He really is enjoying a fantastic moment and for those of us who are behind him, trying to provide him with the service, every time we put the ball into the area we think something can happen -- that is a great feeling."

Squad rotation

With a large squad at his disposal, it is likely that Ancelotti will rotate his players in the coming weeks, using the final two Champions League group G games to give a chance to some of those so far kept on the sidelines.

"Squad rotation is important and is not taken badly by anyone. It is good for everyone -- for the individual players as well as the team. I don't think we will see a problem in that area," said the Portuguese playmaker.

Inzaghi believes the size of the Milan squad could prove to be vital in what promises to be a long, hard campaign.

"I think our decisive weapon is the quality of choices we have in what is a large squad," said Inzaghi.

The most recent addition is Brazilian winger Leonardo who has returned to the club on a short-term contract.

A member of Milan's 1999 championship-winning side, the Brazilian says he has been taken aback by the enthusiasm around the club.

"What is so nice is that there is a great project here and that everyone from the players to the medical staff, the kit-man and fans feel part of it," he said.

"That sort of atmosphere is difficult to achieve but it is also very difficult to maintain so there is a lot of work to do. But I have found almost everyone to be relaxed and with the desire to enjoy themselves," Leonardo added.

"It was great on Wednesday to see everyone so happy at the San Siro. It won't be easy in two competitions but we have a big squad. We believe that there is a chance."

 

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Reuters contributed to this report.