Roma commenced the 2010-11 season amidst much expectations and optimism but so far their campaign has been anything but encouraging. The Giallorossi have been struggling in Serie A and with five points from five matches are third from bottom in the league standings.
Claudio Ranieri's side started the Champions League on the backfoot too as they went down 2-0 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. A defeat to last season's beaten finalists in the competition is not a matter of shame but Roma's performance on Matchday One was embarrassing for a club that has played attacking and attractive football for the past three or four seasons.
The catenaccio approach adopted by Ranieri didn't go down well with club legend Francesco Totti who complained, "We did not play football, we just thought about defending. We always had 10 men behind the ball, and I think that we cannot win games this way."
However, amidst such tension in the club there is reason to remain hopeful yet as Roma defeated Italian and European champions Inter at the weekend in Rome. Mirko Vucinic's injury time headed goal will have certainly injected a healthy dose of confidence in the Maggica and they will go to the game against Cluj as favourites.
Invoking The Past Spirits
Romanian champions Cluj paid a visit to the Stadio Olimpico two seasons ago in the Champions League and shocked Roma 2-1. The hero of that night was a certain Juan Emmanuel Culio who remains in the squad and will start on Tuesday evening.
Cluj will attempt to re-invoke the spirit of that famous night when they take on Roma and indeed will be confident. The Feroviarii defeated Basel 2-1 at home in their opening game of the Champions League on Matchday One and will know that maximum points or even a draw will be immensely helpful in pushing them towards qualification for the knockout rounds of Europe's most prestigious club competition.
Culio is relishing the clash with the Romans and looking ahead says, "What happened two years ago was a dream and I'm so happy that what I and the team did in that match is still remembered by many.
"I'm sure we are a stronger and much more experienced team than in 2008 and that we will be able to perform at least as well."
TEAM NEWS
Roma
The Italians are without first-choice goalkeeper Julio Sergio but left-back John Arne Riise has recovered his fitness and will start on Tuesday. Mirko Vucinic, who too is now 100% fit, could start against the Romanians, meaning that Ranieri may have to decide whether to field Totti from the start.
Cluj
Gabriel Muresan is in some doubt after he suffered a leg injury on Friday in a domestic fixture. He was substituted at half-time. Sasa Bjelanovic damaged his ankle in mid-August while playing against Astra Ploiesti.
Prediction
Roma are on a high after defeating Italian and European champions Inter on Saturday evening. The Lupi do have the quality to defeat Cluj and their rediscovered confidence will give them an extra edge. However, Ranieri will have to see that they do not become complacent and concede an early goal.
Roma 1-0 CFR Cluj 
