AS Roma vs AC Milan preview - Garcia: We need to keep pressure on

Posted Thursday, April 24, 2014 by PA

Roma coach Rudi Garcia is confident his team can at least postpone Juventus' scudetto celebrations by beating AC Milan on Friday evening.

The Giallorossi are well aware that a defeat at the Stadio Olimpico, coupled with a Juve triumph at Sassuolo on Monday, will see the league title head to Turin for the third straight season.

Roma trail Juve by eight points with four games remaining.

"We must win every game, including Friday's encounter," Garcia said. "We will then have to wait and see what Juve do at Sassuolo.

"We hope that Sassuolo do what they have to do as they are fighting to avoid the drop.

"Sassuolo is a good side and they are going through a good spell.

"It's clear that if Juve win against Sassuolo then the scudetto race is almost over but if they don't, then it will be wide open."

Garcia is set to field the same starting XI that won 1-0 at Fiorentina last time out.

The victory, Roma's eighth on the trot, made sure the Eternal City giants secured second position and a return to the Champions League next season.

"It was our aim to directly qualify for the Champions League and we have achieved this ahead of time," Roma captain Francesco Totti said.

"This is something to be proud of."

Rivals AC Milan will be equally ecstatic if they manage to clinch a top-five finish.

The Rossoneri were 12th in the standings just a month ago but a five-match winning streak has allowed them to get back in the race for European football.

Milan beat Livorno 3-0 last weekend to climb to seventh place, five points adrift of city rivals Inter Milan, who are fifth and hold the last Europa League qualifying spot.

AC Milan coach Clarence Seedorf is hopeful his side can rise to the occasion and end Roma's unbeaten home run this season.

"We will have to play a great game in order to bring home three points," Seedorf said. "We will need to show plenty of focus and be lucid, something you need in top games."

Victory on Friday would be a huge boost in confidence for Milan ahead of next week's city derby against Inter.

The visitors have recovered midfield pair Keisuke Honda and Michael Essien while midfielder Nigel De Jong must serve a one-match ban.

Roma are still without the top scorer Mattia Destro, who is suspended.