Fiorentina faces crucial Roma test

Soccer Betting Lines

04/24/2009 - Florence, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The race for fourth place continues to heat up in Serie A on Saturday as fifth-placed Fiorentina hosts sixth-placed Roma in a match that will go a long way towards determining the fates of the two teams.

Genoa currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League spot, but both Fiorentina and Roma are within striking distance and could overcome Genoa with a strong final push over the remaining six games.

Roma was able to close the gap on both sides last weekend as they downed Lecce 3-2, while Fiorentina's three-game win streak was snapped at the hands of Udinese in 3-1 fashion.

Genoa also suffered a 1-0 loss to Lazio, which has allowed Luciano Spalletti's men to close to within five points and revive their top-four hopes.

Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino leads his club with 16 goals in league play, and the former AC Milan man is well aware of how important Saturday's match is.

"The race (for the Champions League) is as important as any other," Gilardino said. "With three points we could stretch our lead over Roma and we are determined to do that.

"We're ready to fight for the game and the result. We're playing in front of our own fans and we want to do well.

"It will be difficult. In recent years Roma are a team who have always delivered the best football."

"But I hope it will be an entertaining match with many chances in front of goal."

Gilardino is likely to get his wish concerning goal opportunities because Roma has allowed the fifth most goals in the league, while both clubs rank in the top seven in goals scored.

Fiorentina will be missing one of its big weapons with the absence of Adrian Mutu, while Mario Santana and Massimo Gobbi are also out injured. Felipe Melo is out through suspension.

Spalletti has a few more injury issues to contend with as Cicinho, Alberto Aquilani, Mirko Vucinic, Vincenzo Montella, Jeremy Menez and Doni are all out because of injury while Philippe Mexes is banned.

Inter Milan looks well on its way to claiming another Scudetto and the Nerazzurri takes its 10-point lead atop the table to Napoli, while second- placed AC Milan entertains Palermo, and Juventus visits last-placed Reggina.

Genoa hopes to rebound with a win at relegation-battling Bologna, Udinese invades Chievo, Siena squares off with Torino, Atalanta meets up with Lazio, Cagliari hits the road to face Sampdoria and Lecce hosts Catania.

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