AS Roma host Manchester City at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday, in the most exciting fixture of the sixth and final Champions League gameweek, offering plenty of permutations and combinations.
Both teams are on five points and still have a chance to qualify to the last 16, alongside group leaders Bayern Munich, making this tie a winner-takes-all affair. However, CSKA Moscow - who visit Munich in the other fixture - are also level on points, and can go through themselves instead, if they pull off an upset against the German giants.
For City to progress, they have to beat Roma or at least manage a score draw and also hope that CSKA do not beat Bayern. However, if they suffer a loss instead, the English champions will not even make it to the Europa League knockout phase.
Manuel Pellegrini's men have been below par in the first four gameweeks but managed to bounce back in their last fixture, beating a 10-man Bayern 3-2, and giving themselves a decent chance to qualify to the knockout stages.
"It will be a very important evening. Reaching the round of 16 is very important for the club. In this competition we have made many mistakes, especially in Moscow," the UEFA website quoted the Chilean tactician as saying.
"We want to show what we can do because we want to play in the round of 16. We have good players and if we can beat Bayern, we can beat anybody. We are an attacking team and we are not going to change anything now. In the first part of the season we weren't playing very well, now it's better."
Roma, on the other hand, can go through with a win, while a draw will be good enough if the Bayern vs CSKA match also ends all level. If the mighty Germans beat the Russians, Roma need a win or a scoreless draw but not a score draw.
The Giallorossi had earned a point in the reverse fixture at the Etihad two months ago, with Francesco Totti cancelling out Sergio Aguero's opener to end it at 1-1. And manager Rudi Garcia is confident of his team's chances of getting a favourable result at home tonight.
"In normal circumstances, we would be out [with five points from five games], but we are here to get a historic result. Like I said before the CSKA match, we have to enjoy the game and do the best we can," the Frenchman pointed out.
"It would be amazing if we won. We want to go through. We have to be focused on this aim. It's a difficult game but I'm quietly confident. We have to use our heads, not just our hearts. I think it will be a tactical game. I coach this team every day and I know what they can do."
Team News
Roma: Vasilis Torosidis is out with a calf injury, while fellow defender Leandro Castan has been ruled out for the season after he underwent a brain surgery. Backup goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski is a doubt with a thigh complaint.
City: Yaya Toure will serve the second of his two-match suspension, while talisman Sergio Aguero has been sidelined for up to six weeks with a knee injury he sustained at the weekend. Meanwhile, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Fernandinho, Stevan Jovetic and Matija Nastasic are all doubtful.
Probable Lineups
Roma: de Sanctis; Maicon, Astori, Yanga-Mbiwa, Cole; Nainggolan, de Rossi, Pjanic; Gervinho, Totti, Ljajic
City: Hart; Zabaleta, Mangala, Demichelis, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Navas, Nasri, Milner; Dzeko
Where to Watch Live
Roma vs City is scheduled for a 1.15am IST (7.45pm GMT, 2.45pm ET) start, with live coverage on Ten Action in India. The match can also be watched via live streaming online on Ten Sports Live.
Catch the action in the UK live on Sky Sports 5 and 5HD, with an option to live stream the match online on Sky GO. US viewers can watch the game live on Fox Sports 1 USA and Fox Deportes or online on Fox Soccer 2Go. Audience in Canada can see the tie via live stream on Sportsnet World.
Viewers in the Middle East and North Africa can watch the match on beIN Sports Arabia 1 HD, 2HD, 11HD and 13 HD or via live streaming online, courtesy beIN Sports Connect. South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can see the contest on SuperSport 5 Africa or SuperSport online.
