AS Roma vs AC Milan

" Current Serie-A leader AS Roma will go head to head with AC Milan once again for their second leg Coppa Italia quarter-final clash at Stadio Olimpico on Thursday evening. Fabio Capello's men have been beaten by the European champion twice in two previous meeting with identical score of 2-1, once in Serie-A league match at home and last week they also suffered the same fate at San Siro during their Coppa Italia campaign. However, Capello would be delighted that on-loan striker John Carew scored the crucial away goal last week. Both teams come into this match with winning their respective leaague matches over the weekend. AS Roma registered a 3-1 victory over Sampdoria while AC Milan snatched a 0-1 away victory over Brescia. Apart from the defeat at the hands of their Milanese rival at Olimpico, Roma have won all their home matches. Their recent victory was more significant, considering that most of their defensive back four were not playing. Capello will once again have to start without lethal Antonio Cassano as he is still serving a four-match ban from last season's final. In goal, Zotti is expected to step in for Pellizzoli after his brilliant display against Sampdoria, including saving the penalty kick from Flachi. Samuel, Jonathan Zebina and Christian Panucci are expected to form the back three as Capello will be using his 3-4-3 formation. Brazilian Emerson and French international Olivier Dacourt would most likely be rested so Damiano Tomassi and Daniele De Rossi would be their suitable replacement in midfield alongside Mancini and Vincent Candela who operate down the flanks. D'Agostino will supply the firepower for two strikers upfront, John Carew and Delvecchio. Francesco Totti will be rested while Vincenzo Montella is sidelined after injuring himself in training. AC Milan travel to Rome with their one-goal lead from the first leg of the Coppa Italia quarter-final encounter with AS Roma. Apart from the surprising loss to Udinese at San Siro before the Christmas break, Ancelotti's men have picked up full points in all domestic competitions.

The reigning European champions will go into this match with high confidence after defeating their Rome rivals twice this season. Milan are also expected to rest some of their main players namely Paolo Maldini, Andriv Shevchenko, Andrea Pirlo and Kaka. Danish international martin Laursen, Alessandro Nesta, Giuseppe Pancaro and Dario Simic should be given the head start to lead the defence in front of Dida. After his superb goal in the first leg, Jon Dahl Tomasson will be given another chance to feature alongside Italy Under-21 Mario Bariello as Filippo Inzaghi is still sidelined with injury and Manuel Rui Costa should be shouldering the role of playmaker in the absence of Kaka. After taking a 2-1 lead during the first of two leg clash, Carlo Ancelloti would most probably employ on his defensive tactics. However, Fabio Capello's men are expected to play a very attacking game and with only three defenders at the back, Milan could deploy their fast counter attack game and snatch another victory over the capital team. Expect Milan to start off slowly and snatch at least a draw from this match. "