Roma's Champions League campaign started on a horrific note as they went down 2-0 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in their opening game of Group E. Coach Claudio Ranieri deployed a distinctly ultra-defensive system that even club captain and talisman Francesco Totti complained about. A narrow 2-1 victory over Cluj in Rome was followed by a 3-1 humiliation by Basel at the Stadio Olimpico but since then the Giallorossi have resurrected themselves.
On Matchday 4 Roma won 3-2 in Basel to lift themselves up to second in the group on six points, six adrift of leaders Bayern but three ahead of both Cluj and Basel with just two more rounds of matches remaining in the group stage. A win for the Lupi on Tuesday evening coupled with a draw in the other game between Cluj and Basel will send Ranieri's side through to the knockout stage of Europe's premier club competition.
Totti has already underscored the significance of a win against Bayern and believes that "this game and the match in Cluj will decide our qualification" while Ranieri believes that Bayern will come to Rome to win and says, "Bayern have already qualified and are not having a great time in the Bundesliga, but I'm absolutely sure we will face a team playing with pride and determined to do well in a competition where they are faultless so far."
Roma warmed up for Tuesday's European clash with a 2-0 victory over Udinese in Serie A on Saturday. It was the former Italian champions' fourth win in five league matches and propelled them to fifth in the table, seven points behind leaders Milan. Roma's current robust health will surely inspire confidence and they will head into the Bayern clash eying a win.
Exhibition Match
Bayern Munich have been one of the most impressive teams in the Champions League so far this season and have already qualified for the knockout stage. Four wins out of win along with 11 goals scored mean that Louis van Gaal's side can rest with ease for the final two rounds of matches in Europe's premier club competition.
Indeed, with Bayern still struggling in the German Bundesliga and losing grasp over the title they won last season, the European adventure could eventually prove to be the spar for the Bavarians towards the end of the campaign. Last season Bayern reached the final in Madrid in sensational style and they will be looking to go a step better this time around.
Van Gaal has a number of players unavailable for the trip to Rome, which means that he will give some of his rusty players including midfielder Franck Ribery a chance to get some match practice. Bayern are unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions but the Dutch coach believes that although they are "playing better football, we're scoring goals", it doesn't "feel good when you fail to win".
At the weekend Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw by Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and it pushed the former European champions to 14 points off the pace in eighth and tonight's European venture will be a welcome distraction for the Munich-based side.
TEAM NEWS
Roma
Midfielder Daniele De Rossi is fit again and is part of the squad for Tuesday's match. Centre-back Juan and striker Adriano returned from their respective thigh and ankle injuries at the weekend and have included by Ranieri. Rodrigo Taddei, though, remains sidelined with a calf problem.
Bayern Munich
Mark van Bommel, Holger Badstuber, Arjen Robben, Miroslav Klose and Ivica Olic have been left behind in Munich because of respective injuries, while Bastian Schweinsteiger is suspended. Centre-back Martin Demichelis has recovered from a hamstring strain and is fit to play. Franck Ribery, Diego Contento and David Alaba all have been included in the squad despite being short of match practice.
Prediction
Roma are in good form at the moment and are also on a resurgent run. The Italian side have lost at home in the Champions League already this season but they have learned their lessons. Bayern Munich have already qualified for the first knockout stage and will be less forceful and less urgent, and this will play into the hosts' hands. A narrow win for Roma looks a very likely result.
Roma 2-1 Bayern Munich 
