Del Neri, after a brief, unhappy interlude at Porto, is now in charge at Roma and will be determined to pick up his first win with the Eternal City club at Leghorn against newly-promoted Livorno who are still winless and bottom of the division.

Roma, after a week in which their on-field troubles have been temporarily forgotten amidst a spirit of celebration.

Champagne corks flew in the club headquarters in Trigoria on Thursday when it announced a new TV deal with Sky until 2007.

The debt-ridden club will receive 102million euros, which will soothe the club's finances after the punishment meted out by UEFA that sees the Romans having to play their next two Champions League home encounters behind closed doors, including the glamour clash with Real Madrid.

UEFA acted following the abandonment of the European game at the Stadio Olimpico against Dynamo Kiev, a contest that was stopped after an object thrown from the stands hit referee Anders Frisk in the head and left him bloodied.

The news on the TV deal came only 24 hours after captain Francesco Totti brought to an end a 14-month goalscoring drought with the Italian national team.

Totti struck twice to guide the Azzurri to a 4-3 triumph against Belarus in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier.

The 28-year-old managed to answer his critics after being under much pressure ever since the infamous spitting incident in the European Championships in the summer that stained an otherwise unblemished career.

But it is the securing of young midfielder Daniele De Rossi that has taken centre stage.

De Rossi's impressive performances for both club and country have earned him a contract extension until 2009.

The 21-year-old, who netted his second goal for the Azzurri on Wednesday, penned the new deal shortly after the game.

"With all the respect towards the agreement between the club and Sky TV, which is wonderful news, it is however secondary to me," said a delighted De Rossi.

"I am really happy with the way my career is going so far and to have scored for Italy and then sign a new contract with my one and only club, it just doesn't get any better."

However, the bubbly will hopefully not have gone to their heads, with Roma's on-field exploits yielding pretty dismal results.

Roma's last win dates back to their opening game against Fiorentina and, although the Giallorossi showed signs of improvement under new boss Luigi Del Neri following their 3-3 draw against Internazionale, they will be expected to win at Livorno on Saturday.

Del Neri has had 13 days to find a solution to Roma's main problem: their defence.

With 12 goals conceded in five games, the Giallorossi have the joint worst rearguard in Serie A along with Brescia.

But newly-promoted Livorno are in no mood to do Roma any favours as they seek their first win of the campaign to lift climb off the bottom of the table.

Club president Aldo Spinelli is confident that Livorno can make the grade.

"(Coach Franco) Colomba and the boys still have my confidence," Spinelli told club website, www.livornocalcio.it.

He added: "I will be following events more closely this week for the game with Roma."

Colomba's hopes of having Gianluca Festa included in his squad were dashed after the veteran defender turned down the offer to remain at the club following a week's trial.

However, the coach will have all his own players available for the encounter at the Armando Picchi stadium.

Del Neri, on the other hand, will have to do without defender Christian Chivu, who is recovering from a fractured bone in his foot, and Egyptian striker Mido, who is struggling with a back problem.