Remember to bring your umbrellas for this game. The early forecast says it’s going to rain goals in the Eternal City.
AS Roma Vs Atalanta, Preview: Get Ready For Goals
Two leaky defences, lots of attacking talent on show. Should be a good game.
Giuseppe Bellini - Getty Images
Thus far, a clean sheet seems alien to Roma and no I'm not counting the 3-0 default victory they were awarded against Cagliari. Worryingly, the club are only second to Chievo Verona in the goals against column.
Last week's 4-1 drubbing at league leaders Juventus nearly led to heads rolling in the boardroom, but order has been restored - at least until after this game. Sporting Director Walter Sabatini raged that many players did "not deserve to wear the shirt," but has publicly backed his under-fire manager.
Rumours of Pablo Daniel Osvaldo re-igniting last season's fight with teammate Erik Lamela were quashed by the player himself this week. Don King will have to go elsewhere to find his next big hit at the Box Office.
Atalanta managed to go one better, or worse, depending on how you look at it, than their hosts last weekend, suffering a 5-1 reverse at home against Torino. Things seemed to be ticking along nicely for the Nerazzurri, until they bizarrely folded like a pack of cards and conceded four goals in the last 30 minutes.
Roma may have won the last two meetings between the sides at the Olimpico, but are yet to taste victory on home soil so far this season.
Atalanta have already proved they're capable of upsetting the odds with their defeat of Milan at the San Siro, but are beset by injuries and will have to paper over the cracks of a leaky defence with another makeshift backline. Federico Peluso will be one to slot into the middle from his normal left back position.
Expect both Goalkeepers to be called into action throughout this game. The physios will be on stand-by afterwards to administer aid, should one complain of back pain, from having to constantly pick the ball out of the back of their net.
Roma injuries and suspensions
Out: Miralem Pjanić, Bogdan Lobont (Injured)
Atalanta injuries and suspensions
Out: Thomas Manfredini, Guglielmo Stendardo, Daniele Capelli, Leonardo Pettinari, Carlos Carmona, Davide Biondini, Ivan Radovanović (Injured)
Stefano Lucchini (Suspended)
Match Date/Time: Sunday 7th October 2012, 12:30 p.m. local, 6:30 a.m. ET
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
TV: Sky Calcio 1 (Italy), RAI Internazionale (U.S & Canada), ESPN (UK)
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