A.S. Roma 2007-08
Encyclopedia
During the 2007–08 football season A.S. Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...

 played the 75th Serie A season in its history.
As in the previous season, Roma achieved second place in Serie A behind Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

, but had the chance to win the Championship until the last match.

Further, because giallorossi won the 2006–07 Coppa Italia, they played the Supercoppa Italiana
Supercoppa Italiana
The Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...

 for the second consecutive time against Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

, and won the trophy thanks to a 1–0 victory
2007 Supercoppa Italiana
The 2007 Supercoppa Italiana was a match contested by Serie A 2006-07 winners Internazionale and Coppa Italia 2006-07 winners Roma.The match took place on 19 August 2007 in San Siro, Milan and resulted in a 1-0 victory for Roma...

 in the first match of the season in San Siro
San Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano...

.

In the European competitions, Roma played 2007–08 UEFA Champions League and, starting from the group stage, beat Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...

 in the Round of 16, but lost to the eventual champions Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

 in the quarter-finals.

The last match of the season was the 2007–08 Coppa Italia final against Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

, the fourth consecutive final between the two teams. The giallorossi won 2-1 and achieved the trophy for the ninth time, a record shared with Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...

.

Pre-season & transfers

Early pre-season was dominated by the protracted talks involving the renewal of Cristian Chivu
Cristian Chivu
Cristian Eugen Chivu is a Romanian footballer. He currently plays for Internazionale of the Italian Serie A. He usually plays as a left back but can play as a center back as well as in defensive midfield when needed....

's contract and the many rumours that linked him to many other teams. In fact, the Romanian defender refused a new contract because he already knew he had an offer of about €4M from Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

. For this reason in early June Roma extended Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Italian Serie A club Milan and for the French national team.-Auxerre:...

' contract until 2011 and signed Brazilian 2007 Copa América winning defender Juan
Juan Silveira dos Santos
Juan Silveira dos Santos , commonly known as Juan is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a central defender for Italian side Roma.-Club career:...

 from Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

The speculation involving Chivu lasted almost two months, and after that he refused to extend his contract with AS Roma. The player also turned down offers from Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....

 and Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...

, stating that if he was not transferred to Inter he would keep playing for AS Roma until his contract ran out the summer of 2008. For this reason Roma's supporters saw him as a "traitor" and whistled him during a training session in Stadio Flaminio
Stadio Flaminio
The Stadio Flaminio is a stadium in Rome. It lies along the Via Flaminia, three kilometres northwest of the city centre, 300 metres away from the Parco di Villa Glori....

; even Roma's director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...

 Daniele Pradé stated that the Romanian defender made "incalculable damage" to the club because Real Madrid's offer was higher than the others. Eventually, on 27 July, when it seemed that Chivu would have been a giallorosso until the end of his contract period, Inter made a final offer of 14M€ plus the co-ownership of Marco Andreolli
Marco Andreolli
Marco Andreolli is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Chievo Verona. Andreolli has previously played for Internazionale and Roma.-Club career:...

.

Roma also signed Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly is a French footballer who plays for Monaco as an attacking midfielder and winger. He represented France at international level, gaining 17 caps over a five-year period, and was a member of their 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup winning squad.-Early career:After starting his career with...

, Mauro Esposito
Mauro Esposito
Mauro Esposito is an Italian footballer who plays for Atletico Roma FC mainly as a right winger.-Club career:...

 and, at the end of August, Cicinho
Cicinho
Cícero João de Cézare, nicknamed Cicinho, in Pradópolis, São Paulo, Brazil), is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Roma.Currently married to longtime girlfriend, Reem Borriello; the two have one son, Heitor...

. The loans of Christian Wilhelmsson and Francesco Tavano
Francesco Tavano
Francesco "Ciccio" Tavano is an Italian football a striker who currently plays for Empoli of Serie B.- Career :...

 were not renewed, while Vincenzo Montella
Vincenzo Montella
Vincenzo Montella is a retired Italian footballer. Currently he is the youngest head coach of Serie A, after being named at the helm of Sicilian outfit Catania on 9 June 2011....

 was loaned to Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...

 as he wanted more first-team football. However, Roma bought full ownership of David Pizarro
David Pizarro
David Marcelo Pizarro Cortés is a Chilean football Midfielder. Pizarro. He also plays for the Chile national team, for which he won the Bronze medal at 2000 Summer Olympics, at Sydney...

, Mirko Vučinić
Mirko Vucinic
Mirko Vučinić is a Montenegrin footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Juventus. Originally from the city of Nikšić, Vučinić found himself playing for the local team there during his early teen years...

 and Marco Cassetti
Marco Cassetti
Marco Cassetti is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A side Roma, as a center back or right-back. He is a hard working, versatile player who is able to cross the ball well.-Early career:...

.

The signings of Matteo Brighi
Matteo Brighi
Matteo Brighi is an Italian football player. He currently plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Atalanta. Brighi was named Serie A Young Footballer of the Year in 2002. Brighi is noted for his stamina, tackling, and aerial abilities.-Club career:Brighi started his career at Rimini...

, Ahmed Barusso
Ahmed Barusso
Ahmed Apimah Barusso is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays for Livorno in Serie B, on loan from Roma.-Career:...

 and Vitorino Antunes
Vitorino Antunes
Vitorino Gabriel Pacheco Antunes is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a left defender.-Club career:Antunes joined first division club F.C. Paços de Ferreira in 2006–07 on a free transfer from third level side Sport Clube Freamunde, where he began his professional football career...

 further enlarged the squad, while young players such as Aleandro Rosi
Aleandro Rosi
Aleandro Rosi is an Italian footballer who currently plays as a defender for Italian Serie A club Roma.-Club career:Rosi was originally in the Lazio youth system but switched over to Roma when he was 12 years old. He signed with A.S. Roma his first professional contract on 1 July 2004...

, Ricardo Faty
Ricardo Faty
Ricardo Faty is a French Defensive midfielder who currently plays for Aris Thessaloniki.He is the younger brother of Jacques Faty, who plays for French Ligue 1 club FC Sochaux-Montbéliard...

, Stefano Okaka, Valerio Virga
Valerio Virga
Valerio Virga is an Italian footballer, currently plays for Virtus Lanciano on loan from A.S. Roma.-Career:A product of the AS Roma youth academy and one of the bright prospects of the giallorossi, Virga usually plays as midfielder. He made his Serie A debut on 10 April 2005, in an away league...

, Alessio Cerci
Alessio Cerci
Alessio Cerci is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Fiorentina as a winger.-Club career:He was a regular for the Roma youth team that won the Campionato Primavera 2004–05...

, Andrea Giacomini
Andrea Giacomini
Andrea Giacomini is an Italian footballer who plays for Rimini at Lega Pro Prima Divisione.-Biography:Born in Ciampino, The Province of Rome, Giacomini started his career at A.S. Roma and signed a contract until 30 June 2010. After graduated from Primavera Team, he was loaned to Serie B side...

 and Daniele Galloppa
Daniele Galloppa
Daniele Galloppa is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Parma. Galloppa is a central midfield playmaker with outstanding reading of the game, excellent vision and an ability to deliver incisive passes....

 were loaned to lower league clubs to gain experience.

First part of the season

AS Roma began the season 2007-08 on 19 August 2007 with the Supercoppa Italiana
Supercoppa Italiana
The Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...

 final
2007 Supercoppa Italiana
The 2007 Supercoppa Italiana was a match contested by Serie A 2006-07 winners Internazionale and Coppa Italia 2006-07 winners Roma.The match took place on 19 August 2007 in San Siro, Milan and resulted in a 1-0 victory for Roma...

 in San Siro
San Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano...

 against Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

. In the previous season, Roma had lost that match 4–3
2006 Supercoppa Italiana
The 2006 Supercoppa Italiana was a match contested by the 2005-06 winners Internazionale and the 2005-06 Coppa Italia runners-up Roma. The Coppa Italia runners-up were chosen to play instead of the winners because of the aftermath of the 2006 Serie A match-fixing scandal...

, but on this occasion succeeded in winning (by 1–0) the second Supercup of its history thanks to a penalty by Daniele De Rossi
Daniele De Rossi
Daniele De Rossi, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Roma. He is the current Roma's vice-captain and nicknamed as Capitan Futuro due to his high probabality as heir-apparent to Francesco Totti's captain armband.With Roma he has won the Coppa Italia...

 after a foul by Nicolás Burdisso
Nicolás Burdisso
Nicolás Andrés Burdisso is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a central or right defender for A.S. Roma. He also holds European Union nationality.-Boca Juniors:...

 on Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, Ufficiale OMRI, is an Italian footballer who is the captain of Serie A club Roma. His primary position is that of a trequartista, though he has also been successfully utilized as a lone striker. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma, is the number-one goalscorer and the most...

.

The 2007–08 Serie A began with Roma as one of the favourites, after Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

, Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...

 and together with Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...

.
The first matches confirmed there expectations, in fact in their championship début Roma won 2-0 against Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...

 with goals from Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Italian Serie A club Milan and for the French national team.-Auxerre:...

 and Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan on loan from Liverpool. He is also part of the Italian national team. Aquilani is a central midfielder, who can operate in a holding position or an attacking position in the hole behind the strikers...

, who also scored in the second match against Siena
A.C. Siena
Associazione Calcio Siena is an Italian football club based in Siena.The club currently plays in Serie A, having gained promotion from Serie B at the end of the 2010-2011 season....

.

Roma were drawn from the second pot of the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League in Group F, together with Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

, Sporting CP and Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...

.

After the pause for Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...

's Euro 2008 qualifying matches against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...

 and Ukraine
Ukraine national football team
The Ukraine national football team is the national football team of Ukraine and is controlled by the Football Federation of Ukraine. After Ukrainian Independence and breakaway from the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Hungary on 29 April 1992...

 in which Daniele De Rossi
Daniele De Rossi
Daniele De Rossi, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Roma. He is the current Roma's vice-captain and nicknamed as Capitan Futuro due to his high probabality as heir-apparent to Francesco Totti's captain armband.With Roma he has won the Coppa Italia...

, Simone Perrotta
Simone Perrotta
Simone Perrotta, Ufficiale OMRI is an English-born Italian World Cup-winning footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Roma...

, Christian Panucci
Christian Panucci
Christian Panucci is a retired Italian footballer. He was a member of the Italian national team. Panucci is a right back, but can also play as a centre back.-Early career:...

 and Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan on loan from Liverpool. He is also part of the Italian national team. Aquilani is a central midfielder, who can operate in a holding position or an attacking position in the hole behind the strikers...

 played, Roma began to play a series of difficult games in a short lapse of time: in fact, from 16 September until 3 October, they played against Reggina
Reggina Calcio
Reggina Calcio are an Italian association football club, the main club of the city of Reggio Calabria. Founded in 1914, they currently play in the Italian Serie B, and play their home matches at the 27,763 seater Stadio Oreste Granillo...

 (winning 0-2), Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...

(winning 2-0), Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...

 (drawing 2-2), Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...

 (drawing 2-2), Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

 (losing 1-4) and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

 (losing 1-0).

Roma won 2-0 in the first match against the Calabrese
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....

 team thanks to Juan
Juan Silveira dos Santos
Juan Silveira dos Santos , commonly known as Juan is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a central defender for Italian side Roma.-Club career:...

's first goal, who volleyed the ball with his heel, and the second goal by Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, Ufficiale OMRI, is an Italian footballer who is the captain of Serie A club Roma. His primary position is that of a trequartista, though he has also been successfully utilized as a lone striker. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma, is the number-one goalscorer and the most...

, who also scored in the Champions League 2-0 victory against Ukrainian champions
Ukrainian Premier League
The Ukrainian Premier League is the highest division of Ukrainian annual football championship. As the Supreme League it was founded in 1991 after the fold of the Soviet Union's Vysshaya Liga. In 2008 it was reformed into a more autonomous entity of the Football Federation of Ukraine and changed...

 Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...

.
In the following two games against Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...

 and Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...

, Roma were leading 2-1 but were not able to win, conceding the equalizer in the last minutes of both games.
After the bianconeri on Sunday, the viola on Wednesday, Roma had to face, in only one week, even Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

 on Saturday 29 September. The giallorossi lost that match 1-4, but the defeat was assisted by a hand ball in the penalty area
Penalty area
The penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...

 from Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly is a French footballer who plays for Monaco as an attacking midfielder and winger. He represented France at international level, gaining 17 caps over a five-year period, and was a member of their 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup winning squad.-Early career:After starting his career with...

 who was sent off and cost Roma a penalty, after which the numerical inferiority and the disadvantage opened the nerazzurris overwhelming victory. -

After losing their position as Serie A league leaders, Roma had to face Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

 for the first time since their débâcle the previous season at the hands of the English champions in the quarter-finals where they had lost 7-1 . Roma lost this time too, but missed many chances, and even the scorer of the only goal of the game Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...

 stated that "Roma deserved more". In addition to ending the first match of the season without scoring a goal, the giallorossi lost Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan on loan from Liverpool. He is also part of the Italian national team. Aquilani is a central midfielder, who can operate in a holding position or an attacking position in the hole behind the strikers...

 to a groin injury that would keep him out of play for more than a month, preventing him from playing the derby
Derby della Capitale
The Derby della Capitale , also known as Derby Capitolino and Derby del Cupolone, as well as The Rome Derby in English, is the football local derby in Rome, Italy, between the two major teams of the city, Roma and Lazio...

.

Roma won the next match 3-0 against Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...

, thanks to two goals by Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, Ufficiale OMRI, is an Italian footballer who is the captain of Serie A club Roma. His primary position is that of a trequartista, though he has also been successfully utilized as a lone striker. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma, is the number-one goalscorer and the most...

 and one by Mancini, thus leaving behind a poor run of two draws and two defeats before the break for the Euro 2008 qualifying matches. The following match was, instead, very disappointing, firstly because Roma played the former Derby del Sole
Derby del Sole
Derby del Sole, known in English as the Derby of the Sun is an Italian football derby match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma. The two clubs are relatively close to each other; Roma being from Central Italy and Napoli from Southern Italy...

 against Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....

 only with the season-ticket holders, due to the high risk of fights between the Roman
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

 and Neapolitan
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...

 supporters. In the second place, the match finished in a thrilling 4-4 draw, that put the giallorossi 5 points from the top of the Serie A.

In the third Champions League group stage match, Roma had to face Sporting CP and, though Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, Ufficiale OMRI, is an Italian footballer who is the captain of Serie A club Roma. His primary position is that of a trequartista, though he has also been successfully utilized as a lone striker. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma, is the number-one goalscorer and the most...

 was injured, the team won thanks to goals by Juan
Juan Silveira dos Santos
Juan Silveira dos Santos , commonly known as Juan is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a central defender for Italian side Roma.-Club career:...

 and Mirko Vučinić
Mirko Vucinic
Mirko Vučinić is a Montenegrin footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Juventus. Originally from the city of Nikšić, Vučinić found himself playing for the local team there during his early teen years...

, who dribbled two Portuguese defenders before firing and assuring Roma second place in Group F, after three matches. The Montenegrin captain
Montenegro national football team
The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro...

 was also the protagonist of the second consecutive victory in San Siro
San Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano...

 against Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...

, scoring the only goal of the game.

On 31 October 2007 the giallorossi played the Derby della Capitale
Derby della Capitale
The Derby della Capitale , also known as Derby Capitolino and Derby del Cupolone, as well as The Rome Derby in English, is the football local derby in Rome, Italy, between the two major teams of the city, Roma and Lazio...

 against Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...

 without three important first team players (Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, Ufficiale OMRI, is an Italian footballer who is the captain of Serie A club Roma. His primary position is that of a trequartista, though he has also been successfully utilized as a lone striker. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma, is the number-one goalscorer and the most...

, Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan on loan from Liverpool. He is also part of the Italian national team. Aquilani is a central midfielder, who can operate in a holding position or an attacking position in the hole behind the strikers...

 and Rodrigo Taddei
Rodrigo Taddei
Rodrigo Ferrante Taddei is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Roma. He plays as a right midfielder or an attacking midfielder and is notable for his dribbling and versatility.He also holds Italian nationality.-Club career:...

), all out with injuries. Despite this, Roma won 3-2 thanks to the third goal in three matches of Mirko Vučinić
Mirko Vucinic
Mirko Vučinić is a Montenegrin footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Juventus. Originally from the city of Nikšić, Vučinić found himself playing for the local team there during his early teen years...

 (evening the score after a goal from Lazio's Tommaso Rocchi
Tommaso Rocchi
Tommaso Rocchi is an Italian footballer who is the current captain of Serie A club Lazio. Rocchi has also been capped for the Italian national team.-Early years:...

), the second goal of Mancini and the winning goal by Simone Perrotta
Simone Perrotta
Simone Perrotta, Ufficiale OMRI is an English-born Italian World Cup-winning footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Roma...

.

Current squad


As of 22 December 2007:

In italics, players involved in transfer during the season
No. |Player Pos |Lge
Apps
Lge
Gls
CL
Apps
CL
Gls
CI
Apps
CI
Gls
|Tot
Apps
Tot
Gls
First Match with AS Roma Previous Club
Goalkeepers
1   Gianluca Curci
Gianluca Curci
Gianluca Curci is an Italian footballer who plays for Roma as a goalkeeper. Curci has previously played for Siena and Sampdoria.-Club career:Curci is a product of the Roma youth academy...

GK 1 (1) -4 1 -1 5 -5 7 (1) -10 19 December 2004 AS Roma Primavera
Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti
The Campionato Nazionale Primavera – Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti, is an Italian football competition played by youth teams of all Serie A and all Serie B clubs, and organized by the Football League. All players must be under 20, but two overaged are allowed in eliminatory rounds...

25   Carlo Zotti
Carlo Zotti
Carlo Zotti is an Italian football goalkeeper, currently playing for AC Bellinzona.-Club career:...

GK - - - - - - - - 10 May 2003 AS Roma Primavera
Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti
The Campionato Nazionale Primavera – Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti, is an Italian football competition played by youth teams of all Serie A and all Serie B clubs, and organized by the Football League. All players must be under 20, but two overaged are allowed in eliminatory rounds...

27   Júlio Sérgio Bertagnoli
Julio Sergio Bertagnoli
Júlio Sérgio Bertagnoli is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Lecce...

GK - - - - - - - - - América FC
América Futebol Clube (SP)
América Futebol Clube , usually known simply as América , is a Brazilian football club from São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo state...

32   Doni
Donieber Alexander Marangon
Doniéber Alexander Marangon , more frequently known as simply Doni, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Liverpool as a goalkeeper. He was born in Jundiaí, São Paulo....

GK 37 -34 9 -10 3 (1) -1 48 (1) -45 23 October 2005 EC Juventude
Esporte Clube Juventude
Esporte Clube Juventude, also known as Juventude, is a Brazilian football team in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul.Juventude's greatest rival is Caxias.-History:...

Defenders
2   Christian Panucci
Christian Panucci
Christian Panucci is a retired Italian footballer. He was a member of the Italian national team. Panucci is a right back, but can also play as a centre back.-Early career:...

RB 21 (6) 5 5 (1) 1 5 (1) 0 31 (8) 6 23 September 2001 AS Monaco FC
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...

3   Cicinho
Cicinho
Cícero João de Cézare, nicknamed Cicinho, in Pradópolis, São Paulo, Brazil), is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Roma.Currently married to longtime girlfriend, Reem Borriello; the two have one son, Heitor...

RB
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

17 (12) 2 4 (3) 0 5 (2) 0 26 (17) 2 26 August 2007 Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...

4   Juan
Juan Silveira dos Santos
Juan Silveira dos Santos , commonly known as Juan is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a central defender for Italian side Roma.-Club career:...

CB
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

19 (3) 2 8 1 2 0 29 (3) 3 2 September 2007 Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports.-Origins and early years:On 27 November...

5   Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Italian Serie A club Milan and for the French national team.-Auxerre:...

CB
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

30 (1) 1 9 0 5 1 43 (1) 2 12 September 2004 AJ Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...

15   Vitorino Antunes
Vitorino Antunes
Vitorino Gabriel Pacheco Antunes is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a left defender.-Club career:Antunes joined first division club F.C. Paços de Ferreira in 2006–07 on a free transfer from third level side Sport Clube Freamunde, where he began his professional football career...

LB
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

0 (5) 0 1 0 3 0 4 (5) 0 12 December 2007 Paços de Ferreira
21   Matteo Ferrari
Matteo Ferrari
Matteo Ferrari is an Italian footballer, currently a free agent after being released by Beşiktaş J.K..-Early career:Ferrari started his career at SPAL in 1995, and he can play as left-back or centreback....

CB
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

16 0 3 (2) 0 2 0 23 (2) 0 19 September 2004 Parma FC
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...

22   Max Tonetto
Max Tonetto
Max Tonetto is an Italian football defender. Naturally left footed, his preferred position is the left midfielder position...

LB 33 (2) 1 6 (2) 0 5 (3) 0 45 (7) 1 9 September 2006 UC Sampdoria
77   Marco Cassetti
Marco Cassetti
Marco Cassetti is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A side Roma, as a center back or right-back. He is a hard working, versatile player who is able to cross the ball well.-Early career:...

RB 21 (6) 0 7 1 6 (1) 0 34 (7) 1 24 September 2006 US Lecce
Midfielders
7   David Pizarro
David Pizarro
David Marcelo Pizarro Cortés is a Chilean football Midfielder. Pizarro. He also plays for the Chile national team, for which he won the Bronze medal at 2000 Summer Olympics, at Sydney...

PM 28 (3) 3 7 (3) 2 2 (3) 0 36 (9) 5 9 September 2006 Inter Milan
8   Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan on loan from Liverpool. He is also part of the Italian national team. Aquilani is a central midfielder, who can operate in a holding position or an attacking position in the hole behind the strikers...

MF
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

11 (10) 3 4 (1) 0 5 1 20 (11) 4 10 May 2003 AS Roma Primavera
11   Rodrigo Taddei
Rodrigo Taddei
Rodrigo Ferrante Taddei is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Roma. He plays as a right midfielder or an attacking midfielder and is notable for his dribbling and versatility.He also holds Italian nationality.-Club career:...

W 25 (1) 6 6 1 3 (1) 0 34 (2) 7 28 August 2005 AC Siena
14   Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly is a French footballer who plays for Monaco as an attacking midfielder and winger. He represented France at international level, gaining 17 caps over a five-year period, and was a member of their 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup winning squad.-Early career:After starting his career with...

W 18 (14) 6 5 (4) 2 6 (1) 1 29 (18) 8 19 August 2007 Barcelona FC
16   Daniele De Rossi
Daniele De Rossi
Daniele De Rossi, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Roma. He is the current Roma's vice-captain and nicknamed as Capitan Futuro due to his high probabality as heir-apparent to Francesco Totti's captain armband.With Roma he has won the Coppa Italia...

MF
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

34 4 9 (1) 0 7 1 50 (1) 5 30 October 2001 AS Roma Primavera
20   Simone Perrotta
Simone Perrotta
Simone Perrotta, Ufficiale OMRI is an English-born Italian World Cup-winning footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Roma...

MF
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

25 (4) 5 6 1 5 (1) 1 36 (5) 7 12 September 2004 Chievo Verona
26   Adrian Piţ
Adrian Pit
Adrian Florin Piţ is a Romanian footballer who currently plays for Khazar Lankaran.He played with former teammate and countryman Cristian Ianu in UTA and Bellinzona, where he wore the number 10 shirt. He was signed by Roma from the Swiss Second Division club on free transfer, for a one year...

W - - - - 1 0 1 0 19 December 2007 AC Bellinzona
AC Bellinzona
AC Bellinzona is a Swiss football club based in Bellinzona. It was founded in 1904, and won the Swiss Super League in 1948.-History:Since Bellinzona is an Italian speaking region, many Italian Serie A clubs loan youth players to the club to get first team experience. AS Roma are a parent club to...

29   Ahmed Barusso
Ahmed Barusso
Ahmed Apimah Barusso is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays for Livorno in Serie B, on loan from Roma.-Career:...

DM 0 (3) 0 1 (1) 0 - - 1 (4) 0 7 October 2007 Rimini CFC
30   Mancini W 27 (4) 8 9 2 5 (1) 3 41 (5) 13 31 August 2003 Atlético Mineiro
33   Matteo Brighi
Matteo Brighi
Matteo Brighi is an Italian football player. He currently plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Atalanta. Brighi was named Serie A Young Footballer of the Year in 2002. Brighi is noted for his stamina, tackling, and aerial abilities.-Club career:Brighi started his career at Rimini...

MF
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

6 (18) 1 0 (2) 0 3 (3) 0 9 (23) 1 19 August 2007 Chievo Verona
Forwards
9   Mirko Vučinić
Mirko Vucinic
Mirko Vučinić is a Montenegrin footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Juventus. Originally from the city of Nikšić, Vučinić found himself playing for the local team there during his early teen years...

FW
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...

24 (9) 9 4 (4) 4 6 (1) 1 34 (12) 14 22 October 2006 US Lecce
10   Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, Ufficiale OMRI, is an Italian footballer who is the captain of Serie A club Roma. His primary position is that of a trequartista, though he has also been successfully utilized as a lone striker. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma, is the number-one goalscorer and the most...

FW 24 14 6 1 3 (1) 3 31 (1) 18 28 March 1993 AS Roma Primavera
18   Mauro Esposito
Mauro Esposito
Mauro Esposito is an Italian footballer who plays for Atletico Roma FC mainly as a right winger.-Club career:...

WF 0 (8) 0 1 (5) 0 1 (1) 0 2 (14) 0 26 September 2007 Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....

36   Claudio Della Penna
Claudio Della Penna
Claudio Della Penna , is an Italian football striker who is currently contracted with Ternana.-Career:He began to play in the youth system of AS Roma, he was in the team that finished runners-up in the Torneo di Viareggio 2007....

FW
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...

- - - - 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 19 December 2007 AS Roma Primavera

Matches


Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Group stage

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

List of 2007-08 transfers

In: >


Out:
>
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