Serie A

It’s all gone Totti: Roma’s title hopes wither as their captain vanishes

By Ravin Sampat ⋅ April 23, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Rampant Roma could not take advantage of the dozen or so chances they created as Inter pull away with defiant performance in Turin

Roma’s chance of winning the Scudetto were left in tatters on Saturday evening as influential talisman Francesco Totti limped off on 33 minutes with torn knee ligaments.

Doctors initially diagnosed that Totti would be out for six months, but new tests show that it will be four.

But it was not only Totti’s injury that ended the title hopes of the Giallorossi, but their dropped joints in a winnable game against Livorno. With Inter playing the following evening in a tough encounter against Torino, Roma couldn’t maintain the momentum and drew 1-1.

Often this season the battle between Roma and Inter has been neck and neck and with the season entering its final hurdle, the Scudetto was always going to be won by the team that seized on the initiative. Of course, a point is not a bad result for Roma, especially if it brings you one point closer. but with Inter’s ugly win in Turin, Roma are now six points behind, with four games to go.

Inter still face the unpredictable Milan but realistically, two wins from four will win them the title.

Maths being maths, Roma need to win all their remaining games. But without Totti, they will find this even more difficult. The chances they missed in the opening half were dreadful. For a team who finds it easy to score often, Roma played like a team who hadn’t scored before.

HAT-TRICK HEROES

Alex Del Piero and Ricky Kaka both bagged hat-tricks as both Juve and Milan ran Atalanta and Reggina ragged. Del Piero’s goals move him on to 17 for the season, and surely now he is knocking on Donadoni’s door. It would be a major mistake for the Azzuri to leave Del Boy behind, considering he has captained Juve so well this year.

Milan on the other hand gave their most attacking performance of the season yet, creating no less than 20 chances on goal. Despite the 5-1 scoreline, Milan could have won by 10. The goal of the game however was by Reggina’s Barreto, a belter from 30 yards.

In Brief

Jose Mourinho, according to the Sun, is heading to the San Siro come July, and he will bring Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard with him too.

Ronaldinho’s move to Milan is in doubt after Inter and Man City both claim to have spoken to his agent.

Amauri looks set to join Juve as Palermo have confirmed ‘no one but Juve’ have made a bid for the Italian-Brazilian.

Former Juventus full back Gianluca Zambrotta could make a sensational return to Juve, according to Spanish Press.

AC Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso has been linked with Manchester United, whilst Clarence Seedorf could also leave for Valencia if Milan’s summer overhaul takes place.

Finally, George Soros, speculator, philantropist, political activist, Forbes’ 80th richest man, deemed to be responsible for bringing down the Bank of England by himself on Black Wednesday, is rumoured to be a potentially big investor in AS Roma and a full takeover.

If the deal goes through, Roma are expected to be handed a transfer kitty of €70 million, with deals for Hernan Crespo and Alberto Gilardino very likely.

Arrivaderci

Tags: AC Milan, AS Roma, Francesco Totti, Inter Milan, Jose Mourinho, Juventus, Livorno, Serie A

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