Preview: Roma v Bayern
Monday, October 20, 2014
Article summary
AS Roma coach Rudi Garcia is confident of producing a positive result as FC Bayern München arrive in Group E, while Josep Guardiola knows his men must be at their best.
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Article body
• Bayern, on maximum points, visit a Roma side just two behind in Group E
• Rudi Garcia says hosts are outsiders but warns they have no fear of Bayern
• Visitors must be at their best to get a win according to Josep Guardiola
• Ex-Roma man Guardiola praises former team-mate Francesco Totti
• Read UEFA.com's Roma v Bayern match background
Possible lineups
Roma: De Sanctis; Maicon, Yanga-Mbiwa, Manolas, Cole; Pjanić, De Rossi, Nainggolan; Iturbe, Totti, Gervinho.
• Out: Castán (thigh), Strootman (knee), Keita (calf)
Bayern: Neuer; Rafinha, Boateng, Dante, Alaba; Lahm, Alonso; Robben, Müller, Götze; Lewandowski.
• Out: Badstuber (thigh), Martínez (knee), Reina (calf), Schweinsteiger (knee), Alcántara (knee)
Rudi Garcia, Roma coach
We are still the outsiders of the group, but we have played two good matches and we want to continue, because we know that we have our chances. Tomorrow we will play a high-level match; we know this. But we know too that the Stadio Olimpico will be full [with record ticket sales] and our supporters will be close to us. The truth will come on the pitch, and we will try to be good enough to get what we want.
Pep Guardiola is one of the best coaches in the world; he has won so much at Barcelona, with a very good way of playing. He was proud to go to a club that had won everything the year before, but he proved to be the right person for them.
Bayern haven't conceded a goal for a couple of months? We do not fear them; we have no fear of anybody, to be honest. We know that tomorrow we will play against a great team with great players, but we have great players too and we're playing in our stadium. In a match like this, we will not be spectators. And I have real belief that we can get a positive result.
We want to get to the round of 16 and, if we get three points tomorrow, we'll be confident we can do that.
Josep Guardiola, Bayern coach
I am always really happy to be back in Italy and to be back in Rome, where I spent six very beautiful months with AS Roma. I know how much you love football here and how passionate you are. I love coming back here.
This game will be a very important challenge. If a team wins these two matches, they will qualify, for sure. At the moment we are in a perfect position with six points from two games, but I have always said that the classification in this group will be decided on the last day. Tomorrow, the team which wins will have to deserve it.
I am sorry that [former player at FC Barcelona] Seydou Keita will not play, but when I see players like Daniele De Rossi, Francesco Totti, Miralem Pjanić, Gervinho, Manuel Iturbe and their fast defenders, I say that they have everything. I told my players that if we do not play a great match we will not win.
Totti is inspired when he has the ball at his feet and the way of playing Rudi Garcia has given Roma is perfect for him. It is not easy for a foreign coach to go abroad and adapt as well as Rudi Garcia has. He takes great care in the details. There is still much of the season to go, but I am happy because we are growing, compared to where we were last season. This is the most important thing for a coach – to grow.
Weekend results
Roma 3-0 AC Chievo Verona (Destro 4, Ljajić 25, Totti 33pen)
Bayern 6–0 SV Werder Bremen (Lahm 20 79, Alonso 27, Müller 43pen, Götze 45 86)
Form guide (all competitions)
Roma: WLDWWW
Bayern: WWWWWD
Match facts
• How have Roma fared in Francesco Totti's four home games against Bundesliga opposition? Find out in our extensive match background.