When the balls settled in Monaco and the dignitaries discussed the groups, Roma’s name was being mentioned in hushed circles as part of a ‘group of death.’ the Giallrossi’s problem being that having been drawn from Pot 4, they are the lowest seed of their group.
As it is, in Bayern Munich, Manchester City and CSKA Moscow, Roma will face some familiar faces and old foes. The Giallorossi will look to impose themselves, wanting to avoid their fate from the 2004/05 season, when they were humiliated out of a group containing Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid and Dynamo Kyiv. That year, Roma exited the UEFA Champions League with just one point. That represents the Lupi’s only failure to qualify out of the group stages in their seven previous attempts. Who are the three sides that Rudi Garcia will be trying to plot his way past this season?
Bayern Munich (German Bundesliga Champions)
The 2012/13 Champions League winners are regarded as one of the best sides in the world and one of the favourites for the competition. Already a formidable force, they have added Polish striker Robert Lewandowski to their ranks this season as well as signing Roma’s own defensive lynchpin Mehdi Benatia. Pep Guardiola’s side boast of a host of stars, including seven from Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning squad.
In Manuel Neuer they possess one of the best goalkeepers in the world, playing behind a defence that conceded just 23 goals last season. With Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, there is a dazzling array of talent carrying the ball forward to the clinical strikers like Thomas Mueller and Lewandowski.
Previous meetings with Roma? A 1984/85 Cup Winners Cup tie saw Bayern run out 4-1 winners on aggregate, winning their home leg 2-0 and triumphing 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico, with substitute Ludwig Kogl adding to Lothar Matthaus’ strike. The two sides met again in Group E of the 2010/11 Champions League, both winning their home games. Current Lazio striker Miroslav Klose netted in a 2-0 win in Munich, while Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi both found the net in Roma’s 3-2 victory in the return leg.
Manchester City (English Premier League Champions)
Twice Premier League winners in the past three seasons, Manuel Pellegrini’s side are getting stronger and stronger. Manchester City boasts of some standout players within their squad, notably Belgian centre-back Vincent Kompany, Ivorian powerhouse Yaya Toure and Argentinian forward Sergio Aguero. Their free-flowing attack scored 103 league goals last season, with Yaya Toure, Aguero and Bosnian Edin Dzeko all contributing more than 15.
Although their recently acquired wealth has seen the Citizens ascend rapidly domestically, their UEFA Coefficient has ensured that their Champions League draws have been tough, leaving Manchester City to yet to progress beyond the Round of 16. Pellegrini has himself stated that the quarter-finals are his side’s aim this season.
Previous meetings with Roma? None
CSKA Moscow (Russian Premier League Champions)
Consecutive Russian titles have elevated Leonid Slutsky’s Koni (Horses) to the forefront of their nation’s game. An impressive start to the current season only serves to illustrate that the 2005 UEFA Cup Winners will be formidable opposition both at home, where they conceded just seven league goals in all of last year, and away from home, where Russian sides have typically struggled before.
Despite Russia’s struggles under former Roma coach Fabio Capello at the World Cup, a number of their squad excel at club level. Captain Igor Akinfeev, centre-back Sergei Ignashevich and Alan Dzagoev are all within CSKA’s ranks, and the addition of a number of flair players from outside Russia, notably Zoran Tosic and Ahmed Musa, give a healthy balance to a side who may be little heralded, but will be a threat to the other sides in Group E.
Previous meetings with Roma? A 1991 Cup Winners Cup first round tie saw both sides win away from home, with the Giallorossi progressing on away goals. Ruggerio Rizzitelli gave Ottavio Bianchi’s side a 2-1 win in Moscow and, though Sergey Dmitriev scored the only goal of the return in Rome, the Italians progressed to the second round to face Swedish side Ilves.
