Si è appena svolto il sorteggio per il terzo e ultimo turno preliminare della Champions League. Sorteggio non proibitivo per la Lazio, che ha pescato la Dinamo Bucarest.

Il clou è Spartak Mosca-Celtic, interessanti anche Sparta Praga Arsenal, Tolosa-Liverpool, Fenerbahce-Anderlecht, Siviglia-AEK Atene. Buon sorteggio per il Valencia che troverà i vincenti tra Debrecen ed Elfsborg, il Werder troverà la vincente tra Dinamo Zagabria e Domzale.

Andata il 14 e 15 agosto, ritorno il 28 e 29 del mese.

Per i non romani e non tifosi di una squadra romana che, come me, vivono a Roma, il derby può sembrare un momento di follia collettiva, una questione di vita o di morte, una partita che può rafforzare una supremazia cittadina oppure vanificarla. Per dirne una, la Roma al 99,9% arriverà davanti alla Lazio, ma se la Lazio non dovesse perdere domani potrà vantare di essere la migliore squadra della città.

Una quarantina di giorni fa, in una TV locale davano un programma deedicato ai biancocelesti. Il conduttore fa partire un sondaggio: fuori dalla Champions League e vittoria nel derby o in Champions e derby di ritorno perso. Beh, ci crederest se vi dico che i laziali hanno scelto l'opzione uno? La domanda per un po' ha riguardato il secondo posto, ma da quando se n'è cominciato a parlare la Lazio è calata, la Roma invece ha avuto la soddisfazione di espugnare per la seconda volta San Siro e ora ha due obiettivi stagionali.

La Coppa Italia, ovviamente, che però per la stragrande maggioranza dei romanisti è secondaria rispetto alla partita di domani: anche qui, un sondaggio evidenzierebbe senza problemi il fatto che i giallorossi vogliono vendicarsi di un 3-0 dell'andata pesante e senza attenuanti. Purtroppo, non vedrete immagini simili a quelle qui sopra: non si gioca in notturna per motivi di ordine pubblico. Come dare torti a chi ha preso questa decisione? Io tre anni fa c'ero, fu una manifestazione del peggior teppismo, con gli ultras che fecero interrompere la partita, non credendo a quanto detto dall'altoparlante, che non c'era nessun bambino ucciso.

Quello è stato il punto più basso del tifo romano, domani si spera le cose vadano bene e che la partita non sia condizionata dal gran caldo. Totti sì o Totti no? Quale formazione metterà in campo Delio Rossi? Qualcuno farà un -stavolta salutare- tuffo nel fontanone del Gianicolo? Domani, più o meno alle cinque, lo sapremo. E gli abitanti di Roma "neutrali" come me sorrideranno nell'ascoltare i discorsi degli amici, quasi fosse una finale di Coppa del Mondo.

Inter's 17th consecutive win isn't news, just like the umpteenth Totti's mistake from the penalty spot. Today we want to talk about three teams that have been punished after Calciopoli scandal, and now are trying to get into Europe by its main door: Champions League. Now it's Lazio seating on the fourth step, but Milan is just one point behind and Fiorentina is some distance from them but maybe is in very good shape and don't mind if they are six points under. Reasonably, they are fighting for just one place, but we see that Palermo is in a bad moment and there are still 14 games to play. Will the Sicilians resist in the Top Four? We'll see...

Another remark we should do is that all the people saying this year Serie A is not so good, are a little bit wrong. Take for example the table as it would be if all those teams weren't penalized. At least for the top 6, it should be: Inter 66, AS Roma 52, Fiorentina 46, Palermo 44, AC Milan 44, Lazio 40. Top teams are all there, except Juve that is still paying for its scandals, so it's not Inter's fault if they are too strong. We should talk anout no history for its strenght, but not that the level is lower than the past for the reason Juve is not there.

Anyway, yesterday night AC Milan won without deserving, for the second time three points came during the extra-time, once again Ambrosini's header has been decisive: without him now Milan would be sixth with 31 points, 35 less then Inter. Ronaldo played badly, but had to carry the weight of the attack as Oliveira has been replaced by Cafu after 10', due to Oddo's sending-off. Mach 11th is going to be the moment of truth for Ancelotti: that day his team will play against Inter for the derby. Anyway, choosing Ronaldo -that cannot play Champions League- Milan has shown how important is fourth place to them.

Lazio forward Tommaso Rocchi is the man of the day. His beautiful goal in Cagliari has been applauded by all the viewers, and he had a standing ovation by the opposite fans, and this doesn't happen every day, especially in Italy, where fair play is just a pipe-dream. Now Lazio on Wednesday is going to play Catania at the Stadio Olimpico, it won't be easy, though Catania is in deep crisis and needs some point after the unsuccessful match against Inter.

We think Fiorentina is Serie A third best team, after Inter and Roma (according to Mutu, they are second, after Inter). They have a good coach, a fantastic pair of forwards, Luca Toni and Adrian Mutu, a technical skilled player as Liverani and some good youngsters (Montolivo, Pazzini and Donadel). Sporting director Pantaleo Corvino confirms their interest to young players: today Fiorentina has signed Arturo Lupoli (Arsenal forward, now at Derby County on loan) for the next five years. So, Neapolitan forward will be back to Italy since July, as he left Parma some years ago, "stolen" by Arsenal.

So, as from now until the end of may, at least we'll see an exciting fight for Europe: giants are back!

Second half of Serie A starts this weekend, and everybody is waiting for an Inter false step. This championship is a sort of dictatorship. This time is Fiorentina trying to trip the Nerazzurri at San Siro, and it would be a revenge of the match played in September when Inter won 3-2 with Cambiasso’s and Toni’s doubles and the goal of Ibrahimovic. Mutu and Ujfalusi are disqualified but Mancini is distrustful and says Toni can support by himself the attack of the Viola. Inter will have Adriano-Ibra as forwards, Crespo still a little bit out of form and will seat on the bench. Last time in San Siro, on September 2005 for day 5, Inter won 1-0. It could be Inter’s thirteenth consecutive win: here in Italy, 13 is a lucky number, not like in Anglo-Saxon countries.

Roma travels to Livorno and it won’t be easy: Spalletti has to think up a new midfield, as De Rossi, Pizarro and Cassetti won’t play. The Tuscanian coach is thinking of Chivu as midfielder, let’s see. Livorno away is a hard nut to crack, especially after what happened this week: the heavy defeat in Bergamo (1-5), the president who sacks coach Arrigoni and players’ riot that makes Spinelli change his mind (we already talked about this, here). It’s obvious today the Amaranto of Livorno will do all their best to prove Spinelli’s decision was wrong.

The Sunday night game is at Stadio Olimpico in Roma, where Lazio and Milan will play for a place in UCL qualifying rounds (ok, maybe it’s too early, but we think this could be the duel for forth place). Here main issue is the decision taken by Lazio technical staff not to put Massimo Oddo in the players’ list for the match. The reason is: AC Milan probably will sign him already in January, so Lazio coach Rossi doesn’t want him to play against his next club. It’s absurd because it sounds like questioning his professionalism, especially foe the captain, meaning that he is respected by the club more than any other player. “Oddo won’t play because he asked to go away, not because is dealing with Milan” Delio Rossi says. Should we believe? He already asked to go away, even before other matches, but he always played.

Here you have the complete list of today’s matches (3PM CET), in brackets the first round result:
Inter-Fiorentina (3-2), Livorno-Roma (0-2), Catania-Cagliari (1-0), Siena-Chievo (2-1), Udinese-Messina (0-1), Empoli-Sampdoria (2-1), Parma-Torino (1-1). This evening (8.30PM CET) Lazio-Milan (1-2). On Saturday, Atalanta won away at Ascoli (3-1), draw without goals between Reggina and Palermo.