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Giornata/Week 34: Serie A Preview

Quotes of the Week in Italian Calcio You didn’t know that Salma likes Italian football? Or can quote the great masters of literature? Do you really care? “I wouldn’t repeat the same gesture that cost me a five-game ban. It was a big mistake, especially for the example that I set the children who were…

Weekend Predictions: Real to wrap up title, Roma to close in on Inter, Arsenal to upset United and more

This can be a difficult time of the season for strong recommendations as title hopes evaporate; teams get lost in mid-table mediocrity with little to play for and those resigned to their fate fail to perform to expectation. But there are some interesting clashes this weekend as in Serie A six of the top seven…

Manchester United 1-0 (3-0) Roma – Hargo / Tevez / Rio kings of Old Trafford

A controlled performance at Stadio Olimpico and another European class act at Old Trafford secured passage to the Champions League semi-finals for Manchester United for a second year in a row. Roma go home humbled (and tired of playing United) but while they actually showed up this time around at Old Trafford, so did United’s…

Inter vs Roma vs Juventus: The Battle for the Serie A

At the beginning of the season, no one expected Juventus to achieve UCL qualification. All the critics (some of them were even Juve fans!!) predicted that La Vecchia Signora would only manage the UEFA Cup. But they’ve been proven wrong. The question is: can the bianconeri rise from the mist and mount a season-ending title…

Why Cristiano Ronaldo is good for football and England

Roma midfielder David Pizarro has hit out at Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo saying that his tricks are unnecessary and show a lack of respect for the opposition. He says Ronaldo is a show off and big headed. Whilst this comment has all the hallmarks of being a great big dish of sour grapes, I wonder…

The Rooney-Ronaldo show takes Manchester United past Roma

Before this game (and indeed, before any away game Manchester United have played in the last couple of seasons) the media trotted out figures to suggest that United were abysmal away in Europe – and few United fans would have argued against it after 4 away defeats last season (Celtic, Copenhagen, Roma and Milan) in…

Champions League Predictions: Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea to go through

European football is around the corner (as soon as we deal with today’s Sunday fixtures – Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham for the win, btw) and it’s time for us (you and me) to predict the future with all the confidence that being arm-chair critics gives us. Here are my predictions (that’s my crystal ball up…

Lazio 3-2 Roma: Derby della Capitale Goes to Lazio, Are Roma’s Scudetto Chances Now Really Over?

Ahh… Lazio-Roma. Traditionally called “Stracittadina” (or conventionally “Derby della Capitale“), these derbies are always full of excitement: Laziali and Romanisti go crazy for them, because on top of providing plenty of entertainment (to neutral watchers as well), Stadio Olimpico bragging rights for the entire season are at stake. Last night’s derby however, was particularly important…

2007-2008 Champions League & UEFA Cup Quarter-Finals & Semi-Finals Draw – LIVEBLOG

With now only 8 teams remaining in each respective tournament, UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon (Switzerland) will host the draws on Friday afternoon for the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals of the 2007/08 UEFA club competitions, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The UEFA Champions League draw will be made at 13.00CET and conducted by the…

Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Roma and Inter all looking for League and Champions League double… My money’s on a repeat of 2006

“We are top of the Premier League and through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. We beat the holders at home, so why can’t we win them both?” The words of an understandably excited Cesc Fabrigas after Arsenal’s wonderful victory in the San Siro. Arsenal are far from the only team looking to do…