Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Champions League Preview: Pressure on City for Roma decider

December 09, 2014 11:51 IST

Manuel Pellegrini the manager of Manchester City

Image: Manuel Pellegrini the manager of Manchester City looks on during a training session. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The calculators will be out in force as AS Roma and Manchester City clash for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday with outsiders CSKA Moscow lurking in the background.

The head-to-head rule which UEFA use to separate teams who are level on points means that all sorts of complex connotations are possible as the three sides bid to follow runaway Group E leaders Bayern Munich into the next round.

Manchester City have never won a competitive match in Italy in four previous attempts and, even if they break that taboo, could still suffer another premature group stage exit.

Roma's fate is in their own hands as a win will be enough for them while a draw, paradoxically, could send either themselves or City through, depending on CSKA's performance.

"City are obliged to win. They have all the pressure. Not Roma. City are in the same period that Chelsea used to be before they won it. It becomes complex until you win the trophy," Roma's Ivorian striker Gervinho told British media.

Roma, City and CSKA all have five points from five games after mediocre campaigns in a group dominated by Bayern.

Rule fun begins if Roma and City draw

AS Roma players share a joke during a training session

Image: AS Roma players share a joke during a training session. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

A win for Roma, still in the hunt despite losing 7-1 at home to the Bavarians, will guarantee them a second place finish, even if CSKA also win, as the Serie A side would have the better head-to-head record against the Russians.

CSKA can only qualify if they win in Munich and Roma fail to beat City while City will qualify if they win and CSKA do not.

The rule fun begins if Roma and City draw. If CSKA also draw, Roma would go through, and if the Russians lose, it would come down to the head-to-head record between the Serie A and English side. A goalless draw would favour Roma and a score draw would do for City.

City have gone out in the group stage twice in three attempts and their task has been made ever harder after their leading scorer Sergio Aguero was injured against Everton on Saturday, forcing him out of the tie.

Visitors grapple with injury list

Sergio Aguero of Manchester City lies on the pitch injured

Image: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City lies on the pitch injured. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

City will also be without midfielder Yaya Toure who is suspended, while skipper Vincent Kompany, and midfielders Stefan Jovetic and Fernandinho face late fitness tests.

However, forward James Milner believes that even without Aguero and Toure City can get the result they need.

"Sergio is a world class player, and has been outstanding all season so the injury has come at a bad time.

"He is going to be very difficult to replace and even without him and Yaya (Toure) we have a fantastic squad of players and, with the players, we have I am not too worried."

"We've had to win our last two games to qualify and I believe we can win in Rome after beating Bayern."

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.