Roma mark their long-awaited return to the Champions League with a home tie against Russian champions CSKA Moscow on Wednesday evening.
The Stadio Olimpico will host the Giallorossi in Europe’s premier club competition for the first time in three years, after Rudi Garcia led the capital side to a runners-up spot in last season’s Serie A.
Three straight defeats for CSKA in away matches against Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Viktoria Plzen in the group stage of last season’s edition will give Roma fans encouragement. However, the Russian title holders have a squad brimming with talent and experience at this level, including players such as Igor Akinfeev, Zoran Tosic and Seydou Doumbia.
Despite both clubs enjoying regular involvement in European competition, there has been only one previous meeting between the sides. A 2-2 draw in the first round of 1991/92 Cup Winners’ Cup saw the Italians progress on away goals, a result that may give the Giallorossi minor bragging rights but has little relevance to this year’s encounter. However, CSKA have enjoyed recent successes on the peninsula, beating Inter in the 2011/12 group stage and Palermo at the same stage of the 2010/11 Europa League.
Roma have started the season strongly with two wins from two against Fiorentina and Empoli, keeping two clean sheets in the process. With many pundits tipping the capital club to push Juventus hard for the Scudetto this season, the prospect of midweek matches will be a relatively unfamiliar one that Rudi Garcia will have to adapt his side to.
The visitors have the slight advantage of being further into their season, having already played seven games in the Russian top flight. They have won five of their seven matches so far and are sitting second in the table, coming into Wednesday’s tie on the back of a 6-0 hammering of Rostov and a 2-1 victory over Arsenal Tula.
CSKA will be severely weakened by the loss of Alan Dzagoev and Pontus Wernbloom, who both begin three match bans on Wedesnday. Rasmus Elm and Georgi Schennikov are both unlikely to play due to injury along with Vitinho, who has been ruled out until November.
Meanwhile, Roma will be missing talismanic midfielder Daniele De Rossi who will serve a one match ban, while Kevin Strootman and Federico Balzaretti are long-term absentees.
Expected Starting XIs
Roma: De Sanctis; Maicon, Manolas, Astori, Cole; Keita, Nainggolan, Pjanic; Gervinho, Totti, Iturbe
CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev; Fernandes, Ignashevich, Berezutski, Nababkin; Milanov, Natcho; Tosic, Eremenko, Musa; Doumbia
Follow Alasdair Mackenzie on Twitter: @olimpiacalcio
