Weekend Club Preview:  Italy

Special focus on Italy this weekend, as the biggest club match in the world is on the Serie A docket.

Whereas once Internazionale boasted an 11 point lead in Italy, Milan has closed the gap to four.  This weekend, the Rossoneri visit the Giallorossi - Roma, third place in the league.  Roma is two points back of Milan but, even considering their opponent's four match winning streak, have been the league's best team in 2010.

The chink of Roma's roster is their Europa League performance.  Last week Roma was down 2-3 after the first leg in Greece against Panathinaikos.  Returning to the Stadio Olimpico, it seemed Roma had the tie under control.  Claudio Ranieri's side proceeded to lose 3-2, drop out of Europa League, and make Italy more vulnerable to losing their fourth UEFA Champions League spot to the German Bundesliga.

Don't look too deep into Roma's European exploits.  We see it every year.  Some teams don't take their continental competitions seriously.  Even when they play their first team, there is not the same intensity.

I don't know if that is the case with Roma; however, we have seen enough examples of teams prioritizing the league (or, as is the case with Milan over the years, prioritizing Europe).  We should entertain the idea that Roma is still strong.

Tactically, Roma matches up very well with Milan.  Giallorossi pivots Daniele De Rossi and Davide Pizzaro can dominate the Milan midfield, though De Rossi is an injury doubt.  Francisco Totti will miss the match, while Milan's Alexandre Pato is also out.

Pato's absence is particularly important because of John Arne Risse, Roma's in form left back.  The Brazilian starlet is apt to play on the right side of Roma's attacking threesome.  Were he playing, Riise would have a greater defensive commitment.  With Pato out, Riise can play with more abandon.

Without Pato, Milan will hope for brilliance from Ronaldinho, an approach that has served them will this season.  Roma defender Nicolás Burdisso will be counted on for a strong performance.

Even if Ronaldinho plays well, the movement in the final third Roma gets from Rodrigo Taddei, Simone Perrotta, and Mirko Vucinic will get a suspect Milan defense troubles.  Complemented by Luca Toni in the middle, it's difficult to see Milan keeping Roma to one (or less) goals.

Famous last words.

Elsewhere in Italy, Internazionale hosts ninth-place Genoa.  The Nerrazzuri have to be favored to get three, which means they would increase their Serie A lead unless Milan wins.  Over at Set Piece Analysts, Brian Zygo talks about that (and the other points of interest in the Italian weekend).

And while neither team is performing to expectations, Juventus's trip to Florence to take on Fiorentina will possess as much talent as any match this weekend - Roma-Milan included.