Rome still believes in it. Although Juventus have put the distances back to safety, the Giallorossi want to try to annoy them again. On the other hand, the calendar once again lends a hand, at least as far as the time factor is concerned. Indeed, Garcia's men will take the field this evening (20.45 pm) while the bianconeri will have to wait for Monday. The prospect of returning to minus 5 and putting some pressure on the opponents is concrete. “If we win everything will be open again – explained the French coach at the press conference. – In any case, however it ends, it will have been an extraordinary season. We only play to win, at the moment the first place doesn't depend on us but we will attack it”. In short, no surrender, even if the mission remains at least prohibitive.
Also because tonight, in anticipation of the 33rd day, Roma will face Colantuono's Atalanta, a tough opponent even if a little downsized by the defeat against Sassuolo. “They still had a good run of victories – thought Garcia. – I expect enthusiasm from the fans, it's time to support this team that is fighting even for an inch”. Any reference to Tony D'Amato (alias Al Pacino in the famous film "Any Given Sunday") is not purely casual, in perfect French style. Which he sent to Rome from the beginning, perhaps even too much given the numerous TV test cases.
Needless to hide it, the Capital sees Destro's disqualification as a profound injustice but the coach doesn't want to hear about a distorted championship. “There's nothing against us, that's for sure – he reiterated. – It is useless to go back to the subject, there will be an appeal which will be discussed next Thursday. The only sure thing is that Mattia couldn't have played for Atalanta, I'd always prefer to talk about football”. It will be the pitch itself that will tell us if tonight, around 22.30 pm, it will still make sense to talk about an open championship.
Roma will have to make up for numerous absences: that of Destro of course, but also of Pjanic and Florenzi, both disqualified, and of Benatia, whose season could even be over already. Putting a competitive team on the field won't be easy, but Garcia has at least recovered Totti, who was in doubt until yesterday due to a muscle problem. The Frenchman will line up the Giallorossi with the usual 4-3-3 with De Sanctis in goal, Maicon, Toloi, Castan and Romagnoli in defence, Taddei, De Rossi and Nainggolan in midfield, Gervinho, Totti and Bastos (favorite over Ljajic) in attack . Colantuono will respond with the classic 4-4-1-1 with Consigli in goal, Benalouane, Stendardo, Yepes and Brivio in defense, Estigarribia, Cigarini, Migliaccio and Bonaventura in midfield, De Luca in the trocar and Denis in attack.
