Roma lose Cassano and Chivu Saturday 17 September, 2005
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Antonio Cassano and Cristian Chivu won't make the trip to Livorno for Sunday's game, but Damiano Tommasi returns to the Roma bench after a year.
Coach Luciano Spalletti gave Cassano his first Serie A appearance of the season last week, allowing the contract rebel on as a substitute during the 1-0 home defeat to Udinese, but a muscular problem in training ruled him out of the subsequent 5-1 UEFA Cup victory and this tricky away test.
Chivu and Mexes have also pulled up with muscular injuries during training and both will stay at home this weekend, forcing Spalletti to reshuffle his defence.
Ex-Parma man Cesare Bovo looks set to step in to the back four, with Alberto Aquilani and Daniele De Rossi forging the central midfield partnership. As ever, Francesco Totti, Rodrigo Taddei and Amantino Mancini will fan out in support of Vincenzo Montella, although Shabani Nonda’s good form could put the ex-Monaco man in pole position.
The good news for all Giallorossi supporters is that Tommasi has been called up and should sit on the bench for the first time in a year. The midfielder suffered a horrific knee injury during a friendly match with Stoke City on June 22 2004 and recently signed a new contract worth just £1,000 per month in order to rebuild his career at Roma.
Roma squad: Alvarez, Aquilani, Bovo, Cufrè, Curci, Dacourt, De Rossi, Doni, Eleftheropoulos, Kharja, Kuffour, Mancini, Montella, Nonda, Panucci, Perrotta, Taddei, Tommasi, Totti
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