Roma to bounce back after losing lead

Football | Italy

Francesco Totti © Gallo Images

 

Roma look to get back the brisk form displayed early in the Serie A season as they tackle Atalanta on Sunday after Juventus leapfrogged them at the top.
The Rome side remain unbeaten in the Italian league, boasting Europe's best defence with three goals conceded, but drew their last three outings, failing to score for the first time in their latest home game to Cagliari.
Champions Juve, meanwhile, switched gears obtaining five straight wins on a 12-0 goal record, for a tally of 34 points from 13 games, with Roma trailing on 33.
This week, the Bianconeri improved a stuttering Champions League campaign with a 3-1 defeat of Copenhagen, courtesy of a great showing by Arturo Vidal.
"I am very proud about the victory of my team and my hat-trick," the Chile international said, adding that he plans to stay in Turin despite offers from various big European clubs.


"I am waiting for the club, we are very close (to an agreement). I could sign tomorrow or the day after," Vidal said.
King Arthur, who has scored five goals in the current home league, is a valued all-purpose player, and filled in as central defender in last weekend's 2-0 win at Livorno.
He is back in midfield at home to Udinese late Sunday afternoon, when Juve will fill with 6 400 non-paying children the seats of fans who were banned over abusive chants against Napoli supporters.
Roma, meanwhile, seem to have lost steam since their veteran captain Francesco Totti injured himself in mid-October during a 2-0 defeat of Napoli.
The 37-year-old is still out - possibly returning in a couple of weeks -as the Giallorossi visit solid Atalanta, who won four and lost one of six games played in Bergamo.
Third-placed Napoli, on 28 points, play late Monday at Lazio, looking to rebound from two defeats in the Serie A and this week's 3-1 crash at Borussia Dortmund, which complicated matters in the Champions League.

Qualification for the tournament's knock-out phase is available for AC Milan after winning 3-0 at Celtic, but they sit 13th at home on just 14 points before playing at troubled Catania at midday Sunday.
"This win (in Glasgow) arrived at the right moment because we needed a positive result to regain confidence," said Brazil ace Kaka, who opened the scoring and set up Mario Balotelli's third goal.
Bad news for the Devils were the injuries suffered by Robinho and Ignazio Abate, but coach Massimiliano Allegri hopes to have back soon strikers Stephan El Shaarawy and Giampaolo Pazzini.
A regional derby between Parma and Bologna is set for Saturday, ahead of Genoa v Torino.
In Sunday afternoon action, fourth-place Inter Milan welcome struggling Sampdoria, Cagliari take on Sassuolo, and Chievo entertain Livorno.
Fiorentina and Verona meet Monday before the closing Lazio v Napoli.