Roma fans do the unthinkable, supporting Lazio
Source: Agencies |
April 30, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
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AS Roma's players and fans will go against everything they hold sacred this weekend when they cheer on bitter rivals Lazio against Inter Milan.
Claudio Ranieri's Roma surrendered the Italian Serie A lead to Inter last weekend when it lost for the first time in 25 league matches at home to a rampant Sampdoria.
Now with three games left, it must first win at Parma on Saturday before risking the wrath of the Roman gods by supporting Lazio in the home match with Inter on Sunday.
Roma and Lazio have one of the most heated rivalries in soccer with the former's win in the city derby earlier this month prompting an on-pitch brawl and violence on the streets.
Some Lazio fans are so desperate for Roma to miss out on the scudetto that they have besieged internet message boards to demand their side lose on Sunday now they are almost safe from relegation, six points above the drop-zone.
However, coach Edy Reja, banned from the dugout for arguing with officials in last Sunday's win at Genoa, is having none of it. "Safety has still not been reached and against Inter we cannot afford any slips. We will try to get the best result possible," he said.
Inter is two points ahead of Roma and is seeking a fifth straight scudetto.
The Lazio clash looks to be Inter's most difficult on paper in the title run-in and Jose Mourinho's men lost on their previous visit to Rome's intimidating Stadio Olimpico, falling to Roma last month.
Roma will not have it its own way either against mid-table Parma and its former Inter striker Hernan Crespo.
"We've got to believe, the battle for the scudetto is not over," Ranieri said.
Treble-chasing Inter will be back in the capital again next Wednesday for the Italian Cup final against, who else, but Roma.
Claudio Ranieri's Roma surrendered the Italian Serie A lead to Inter last weekend when it lost for the first time in 25 league matches at home to a rampant Sampdoria.
Now with three games left, it must first win at Parma on Saturday before risking the wrath of the Roman gods by supporting Lazio in the home match with Inter on Sunday.
Roma and Lazio have one of the most heated rivalries in soccer with the former's win in the city derby earlier this month prompting an on-pitch brawl and violence on the streets.
Some Lazio fans are so desperate for Roma to miss out on the scudetto that they have besieged internet message boards to demand their side lose on Sunday now they are almost safe from relegation, six points above the drop-zone.
However, coach Edy Reja, banned from the dugout for arguing with officials in last Sunday's win at Genoa, is having none of it. "Safety has still not been reached and against Inter we cannot afford any slips. We will try to get the best result possible," he said.
Inter is two points ahead of Roma and is seeking a fifth straight scudetto.
The Lazio clash looks to be Inter's most difficult on paper in the title run-in and Jose Mourinho's men lost on their previous visit to Rome's intimidating Stadio Olimpico, falling to Roma last month.
Roma will not have it its own way either against mid-table Parma and its former Inter striker Hernan Crespo.
"We've got to believe, the battle for the scudetto is not over," Ranieri said.
Treble-chasing Inter will be back in the capital again next Wednesday for the Italian Cup final against, who else, but Roma.
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