Ideal chance for Roma to end poor run

AS ROMA have been presented with an excellent chance to end their poor recent run against Juventus when the two meet on Sunday with the titleholders still caught in a rebuilding process.

Juve, Serie A champions for the last four seasons, took six points off Roma two seasons ago and four points last season as they ran away with the title.

Now, the fixture list has pitted them against each other in only the second match day of the season and, with Juventus still under construction after an eventful summer, the odds appear to be stacked in favour of Rudi Garcia’s Roma, who host the match at the Stadio Olimpico.

Juventus, who saw veteran playmaker Andrea Pirlo, topscorer Carlos Tevez and midfield dynamo Arturo Vidal all leave during the summer, were disjointed and lacked their usual vitality as they slumped 1-0 at home to Udinese last Sunday.

Italian commentators were quick to get out their history books and point out that there have only been four seasons in the past a team has recovered from an opening day defeat to go on and win the title.

Although the season has already started, the transfer rumours are still swirling around. Colombia forward Juan Cuadrado was signed this week and the club are still reported to be chasing Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler.

“Everyone needs patience, as it is a transitional year, but that doesn’t mean we’ve lost before we begin,” said defender Leonardo Bonucci. Unlike Juventus, Roma have kept the core of their side from last season and brought in Mohamed Salah and Edin Dzeko to bring in some added flair and firepower.

Even so, their most impressive debutant in last week’s 1-1 draw at Verona was goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

“It will be interesting it see that when we play them next weekend. They’ve lost some topquality players in Pirlo, Tevez and Vidal but they’ve also signed some fantastic talents,” said Roma coach Rudi Garcia. – Reuters

EARLY TITLE TEST IN GERMANY

BAYERN Munich fans might have thought the Bundeliga would be a walk in the park but a fortunate 2-1 win at Hoffenheim last time out will have ended any complacency ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen joined Bayern on six points from two games with a 1-0 win at Hanover last weekend and progressed into the Champions League group stage yesterday with a convincing playoff victory over Lazio. Borussia Dortmund may not be in the Champions league this term but they have got off to a flier in the Bundesliga and lead Bayern and Leverkusen at the top on goal difference. In constrast, Gladbach prop up the table with no points from two games having finished third last year. They need to quickly recover but Sunday’s trip to Werder Bremen is not the easiest. VfB Stuttgart await Eintracht Frankfurt tomorrow, where else Cologne host wildly inconsistent Hamburg. Newcomers Darmstadt are unbeaten on two points and they welcome pointless Hoffenheim. Fellow promoted side Ingolstadt travel to last season’s surprise packages Augsburg while Mainz also host Hanover. Today’s game pits last term’s runners-up Wolfsburg against Schalke.