Inter Milan vs AS Roma Preview: Roma still strong - Materazzi - 7M sport

Inter Milan vs AS Roma Preview: Roma still strong - Materazzi



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Posted Sunday, February 06, 2011 by PA

Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi believes opponents Roma remain a formidable side despite their inactivity in the winter transfer window.

Defending champions Inter are in third place, seven points behind Serie A leaders and city rivals, AC Milan, but two ahead of their fifth-placed opponents.

"They didn't sign anyone but Roma is a great team," said the veteran defender.

"We have played against them many times in recent years.

"Sometimes we have won, other times we have lost but we know that it's a team that cannot be taken lightly."

Roma captain Francesco Totti is 34 and showing signs that he is slowing down this season.

He may not even play against Inter because of the flu, which prevented him from training on Friday.

If Materazzi had his way, Totti would never play against Inter because he has been very influential in their past encounters.

"I would always take Totti out of Roma's team because he is a great player that can make the difference," he said.

Should Totti not play, Roma coach Claudio Ranieri will hand Jeremy Menez a start behind strikers Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic.

Inter will have to overcome the absence of defender Cristian Chivu, who must begin serving a four-match ban as punishment for punching Bari striker Marco Rossi this week.

Chivu, a former Roma player, apologised after the game, which his team won 3-0 on Thursday.

Chivu's absence could see Japanese defender Yuto Nagatomo make his debut with Inter.

Nagatomo is one of the seven players to have joined the defending champions during the winter break, having arrived on loan from Cesena.

Roma will have to do without defender Philippe Mexes, who was slapped with a two-match ban this week after insulting the referee following his team's 1-1 draw to Brescia on Wednesday.

Inter have won their last five league games at the San Siro and remain unbeaten at home since November 14.

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