Basel seek resurgence by revisiting Roma victory

AS Roma will aim to follow their 2-1 win against CFR 1907 Cluj with another home UEFA Champions League Group E victory against point-less FC Basel 1893, but Claudio Ranieri is wary of a side that led FC Bayern München for so long last time out before losing. As for Basel coach Thorsten Fink, he is taking particular encouragement from a victory against Roma just 13 months ago.

Claudio Ranieri, Roma coach
Basel are a good side who came close to beating Bayern in the previous game. But we know them well too because we lost against them last season in the UEFA Europa League. So I want to see Roma focused and organised like when they defeated Genoa. We know both their strengths and their weak points so we will go out there to win.

Mirko Vučinić, Jérémy Menez and Daniele De Rossi have not recovered from their injuries and are not even in the squad. I hope to have them back for the following game but they cannot even make it to the bench this time around. David Pizarro has not trained regularly recently but I think I will be able to use him even if he is not in peak physical condition. Matteo Brighi should replace De Rossi in midfield. He is an example to all his team-mates because he never fails to give 100% whenever he is called to play.

Thorsten Fink, Basel coach
I'm very happy to be here in Rome, again. Last year both teams were in the UEFA Europa League but this season we are opponents in the UEFA Champions League: this means we had a great season and both have to be proud of this. I think that both lineups are similar to last season, when we beat Roma. We know this is our chance to get a second victory and all the Basel players know this. We have no fear about this match.

We'll have to be calm, we'll have to be strong and physical and to find the net, why not, at the end of it. Have I come here to win? For sure. Otherwise, if I came here to get a draw, probably we would lose. Our aim, in fact, is to change the group standings, because Basel want to go forward in the Champions League, even if we know that going into the Europa League wouldn't be such a bad result.

Team news
• Roma
On international duty De Rossi picked up a calf problem and Vučinić injured his thigh, a fate Menez then suffered too in training on Wednesday. Adriano and Júlio Sérgio have long-term ankle injuries but Rodrigo Taddei's appearance against Genoa CFC on Saturday was his first since hurting his thigh in training prior to Matchday 1.

• Basel
Jacques Zoua has not played since tearing a thigh muscle on 10 September while on duty with Cameroon.

Weekend results
16/10/10 Roma 2-1 Genoa CFC
(Borriello 34, Brighi 53; Rudolf 78)
Matteo Brighi's first goal of the season proved decisive as Roma made it three wins in as many home games. Claudio Ranieri made three changes to the team that lost 2-0 at SSC Napoli on 3 October, replacing Cicinho, Menez and the injured De Rossi with Brighi, Simone Perrotta and Taddei.

15/10/10 Yverdon-Sport FC 0-2 Basel
(Almerares 72, Tembo 77)
Federico Almerares and Fwayo Tembo scored their second goals of the season in all competitions for Basel as the holders reached the last 16 of the Swiss Cup. Despite winning just two of their last eight league games, Basel are still a point better off than at this stage last season.

Did you know?
Basel beat Roma 2-0 in Switzerland on the opening matchday of last season's UEFA Europa League group stage, Carlitos (11) and Federico Almerares (87) scoring.

See the match background for more information