Last season German giants Bayern Munich reached the final of the Champions League in dramatic style, defeating Fiorentina, Manchester United and Olympique Lyonnais on their way. It was a great run from the Bavarians that was terminated by Inter at the Bernabeu.
Just as in last season this time too Bayern have an Italian team in their group - Roma. Bayern drew with the Bianconeri 0-0 at home and hammered them 4-1 away in Turin. A win against Roma at the Allianz Arena will be expected.
Coach Louis Van Gaal will know that reaching the final of the European Cup again will not be easy but he will urge his troops to start all over again. Pitted against Roma, Basel and Cluj, Bayern will be confident of progressing to the second round with ease but they have to make a winning start.
Worries Abound
Roma's Champions League campaign has already taken a kickback as the Italian side have lost a number of first-team regulars. Mirko Vucinic, Philippe Mexes, Stefano Okaka, John Arne Riise and Paolo Castellini were already ruled out of the trip to Munich and on Monday it was revealed that midfielder Rodrigo Taddei has been struck with an injury too.
However, every cloud has a silver lining and coach Claudio Ranieri will be boosted by the return of striker Adriano to the squad. Furthermore, club talisman Francesco Totti too has been included in the squad despite looking doubtful at one point.
Ranieri will know that garnering maximum points at the Allianz Arena will be far from easy especially with the German champions having a better squad, but even a point will be hugely encouraging given that the Giallorossi will take on Basel and Cluj in the next two games.
TEAM NEWS
Bayern Munich
Arjen Robben is a long-term injury concern and Breno is not yet back to full fitness. Franck Ribery is suspended for this fixture. Van Gaal will have to choose between Ivica Olic and Mario Gomez as his centre-forward for Wednesday's game.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Butt, Lahm, Van Buyten, Badstuber, Contento; Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger; Mueller, Kroos, Altintop; Olic
Roma
Mirko Vucinic, Rodrigo Taddei, Stefano Okaka, John Arne Riise and Philippe Mexes all have been ruled out with respective injuries. But striker Adriano has been included in the squad and so has Francesco Totti despite an intestinal virus that he has suffered recently.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Julio Sergio, Cassetti, N. Burdisso, Juan, Rosi; Perrotta, Pizarro, De Rossi; Menez; Totti, Borriello
Prediction
A win for Bayern is likely especially as Roma are suffering from injuries. However, the Germans shouldn't get very complacent and must stay focused against Totti and Borriello.
Bayern Munich 2-1 Roma 
