The first game did not go according to plan for Manchester City in this seriously tough group of the Champions League. Match Two will head their way, in the more familiar confines of the Etihad, on Tuesday, with another difficult opponent in the shape of Roma lying in wait.
Having only just failed to come away with a point against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in their first match of the Champions League season, Manchester City will know the importance of picking up, not just one, but all three points at home against Roma.
"We were very close to getting a draw against Bayern Munich, but it was not a failure," said Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini on Monday. "If we had drawn against Bayern Munich, we would still have the same pressure to win tomorrow.
"Last year we lost the first game and went on to win the other five, so if we play tomorrow in the way we have been doing I will be very happy because we are a team that scores. It will be a very tough game, but we can win it."
Win it they must, but those three points won't easily come along considering Roma's form at the moment. Rudi Garcia's men have won all five of their Serie A matches, and made their Champions League return with a 5-1 thumping of CSKA Moscow.
With Bayern Munich expected to come away with all three points in their game at CSKA Moscow earlier in the day, Manchester City will know if they lose to Roma at home, then they will find themselves six points behind against both sides.
"Roma are a very good team because they have won all five of their league games," added Pellegrini. "Last year they were also a very good team. It was Garcia's first season and maybe no one was sure what he could do, but he started the campaign very well, winning all of his [first ten] games and finally he qualified his team for the Champions League.
"He is a very good manager and he manages a very good team with very technical and fast players."
There will be a few familiar faces in this Roma lineup with the likes of Gervinho and Ashley Cole in Italian side, and Roma, still led by the incomparable Francesco Totti, showed there would be no holding back this season in the Champions League courtesy that blitz against CSKA Moscow.
With Manchester City also a side that likes to go forward, expect an explosive contest. "We have started the season well and the three points against CSKA give us a chance to play without too much pressure," said Garcia. "We have everything to gain.
"That's also because after the draw everyone had already written this one off as a defeat for us. They have everything to lose. Let's not forget that we were in the fourth pot for the draw, which means we're outsiders -- especially against the English and German champions.
"This role motivates us to show that they maybe got their assessment of us wrong. It will bring out our pride. We have to be assertive and not just spectators. It will be tough, but we'll make things difficult for Manchester City."
Team news: Manchester City: Samir Nasri underwent groin surgery recently and will be out for a few weeks, while Fernando, Stevan Jovetic and Matija Nastasic remain doubts.
Roma: Kevin Strootman is a long-term injury victim and will not play any part, along with Daniele De Rossi, Davide Astori and Leandro Castan. Morgan De Sanctis and Juan Iturbe are slight doubts.
Expected lineups: Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Toure, Fernandinho; Silva, Aguero, Milner; Dzeko.
Roma: De Sanctis; Maicon, Yanga-Mbiwa, Manolas, Torosidis; Pjanic, Keita, Naninggolan; Florenzi, Totti, Gervinho.
Where to Watch Live
The Champions League Group E match is scheduled for a 7.45 pm BST (12.15 am IST, 2.45 pm ET) start with live coverage on Ten Sports in India.
The match can also be watched via live streaming online in India on Ten Sports Live. Viewers in the UK can watch the match on Sky Sports 1 or live stream all the action on Sky Go or Sky Sports Online.
US viewers can watch the game live on Fox Soccer or online on FoxSoccer2Go, while Italy viewers can live stream the match via Sky Go Italy. Audience in Canada can watch the game via live streaming on Watch Sportsnet. Catch the game in the Middle East and North Africa on Bein Sports and Bein Sports Connect, while South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can watch the match on SuperSport or Supersport online.
