Rome - AC Milan's sparkling attack package manned by Brazilians Pato, Kaka and Ronaldinho has not dented the confidence of Roma coach Luciano Spalletti as his side gears up to welcome the Devils in a late Sunday match in Rome. "No problem. We will field our usual 11 players and let's see who wins," said Spalletti, who, however, will miss his injured flagbearing captain Francesco Totti as the Serie A resumes after a three-week stop.
The coach also replied with grace to a joke from his Milan colleague Carlo Ancelotti regarding rumours of his possible takeover of Roma's bench when Spalletti "gets out of the way" after winning the Champions League.
"I'm glad about (Ancelotti's) words and I hope they become true," Spalletti said.
Curiosity, meanwhile, is mounting at Milan about the possible fielding of English star veteran David Beckham for at least part of the game.
Beckham is to spend two months at Milan, on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy, and showed a decent form during the winter camp that Milan spent in Dubai.
"I'm ready for my first game in the Italian league with Milan's jersey," Beckham said. "It will be a great emotion for me, regardless of my playing or not."
As Roma welcome back midfielder Alberto Aquilani, it looks as if they have more to fear from Pato and Kaka, who both scored a brace in a 5-1 demolition of Udinese before Christmas.
The game at the Stadio Olimpico has little to say as regards a race for the title that sees champions Inter Milan firmly in the lead on 42 points from 17 games when they host lowly Cagliari late Saturday.
Milan are third nine points adrift and Roma, with a game in hand, lag behind on 23 points due to a horrible start to the season.
Juventus are second with a six-point deficit ahead of a seemingly easy home affair Sunday against Siena. The Turin side welcome back world champion goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from a long injury layoff.
Fiorentina and Napoli are well positioned when they play at home to troubled Lecce and Catania, respectively, while Palermo and Atalanta are safe at mid-table just above Udinese and Genoa visitors Sampdoria.
Lazio visit struggling Reggina, Bologna look to stay out of trouble as they host bottom side Chievo and Torino also need to avoid a setback when they play at Genoa Saturday afternoon.
