Wednesday, December 2, 2009

DE ROSSI RETURNS FOR ROMA

Roma welcome back midfielder Daniele De Rossi as they look to prolong the race for top spot with a win in Thursday's Europa League Group E match against Basle.

De Rossi has recovered from a cheekbone operation and is set to be included in Claudio Ranieri's starting XI.

"I feel much better following my operation two weeks ago," said De Rossi. "I think I will return to play against Basle and I will see how I feel.

"This is an important week for us and I wanted to be ready. We host Basle knowing that a win could see us through to the next round and then we take on Lazio in the city derby on Sunday."

Roma are second in Group E, two points behind leaders Basle and two points clear of Fulham with two games remaining.

While a victory will guarantee Basle qualify, a win for the Italians coupled with a defeat for Fulham to CSKA Sofia would see both Roma and Basle progress to the knockout phase.

The Giallorossi go into the match in buoyant mood having won 2-1 at Atalanta at the weekend to climb to ninth in Serie A.

Ranieri will play with Francesco Totti alongside Mirko Vucinic up front, with the two players eager to warm up for Sunday's derby against Lazio.

Basle travel to the Italian capital in confident mood as the only side to have beaten Roma in Europe this season.

The Swiss giants will be eager to bounce back from their 2-0 loss at Young Boys on Sunday that left them second in the standings, seven points behind leaders Young Boys.

Basle coach Thorsten Fink will have to do without Brazilian midfielder Antonio da Silva, who sustained a serious knee injury at the weekend and will be sidelined until the new year.

Roma will have to keep a close eye on Alexander Frei, who has struck four goals for Basle in the competition so far.

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