There’s been a definite resurgence in City spirits over the last week, having scored 11 goals and conceding 2 in the last two games. The Blues take this new confidence into Europe on Tuesday night, as they face Roma in Manchester. This is one of the tougher games that City will have in the Champions League this season but they will go into it in a good mood following the win at Hull City on Saturday.
This is the first time City have ever competitively met AS Roma, meaning there’s no real past blood between the pair of them. Regardless, these are the two sides likely to be fighting it out for the second spot in Group E. Bayern Munich are almost certain to grab top spot, meaning City and Roma are both going to be vying for that second place.
Despite that, their two campaigns couldn’t have started any differently. Almost a fortnight ago, Manchester City visited Germany and Bavaria to play Bayern Munich and thought they’d grabbed a point after holding the German champions for 90 minutes, before Jerome Boateng volleyed home in the final moments to give his new side the win, over his former employers. Looking past the results, it definitely disheartened City and Manuel Pellegrini, who will have thought they deserved more and will want to improve on Tuesday night.
Whilst that competitive clash was happening there was a very one-sided affair happening in Rome: AS Roma 5 CSKA Moscow 1. CSKA were in the same group as both Bayern Munich and City last season, and didn’t have the best of times of it; it looks like that might be the case again for the Russians. However their underperformance can’t take away from Rudi Garcia and Roma, who look on strong form both domestically and continentally.
In City’s backroom, Manuel Pellegrini has a few injuries to take into account when planning Tuesday’s lineup. Samir Nasri (groin) is now out for longer than expected, after it was announced he needs an operation that will keep it out until just before the end of October. Another new addition is Matija Nastasić, who’s picked up a knock. Fernando (groin) and Stevan Jovetić (hamstring) are both still absentees, but should be back fit in time for the visit to Villa Park next weekend.
In the other dugout, there are three key players missing for Roma. One of them is Kevin Strootman, who picked up a cruciate injury a few months ago and is out until December. Another is Daniele De Rossi, who was regularly linked to a move with City whilst Roberto Mancini was still here, who has a calf injury and is on the sidelines for the City game. Juan Iturbe picked up a thigh injury a few weeks ago and is missing for the visit to England. Other players missing include Federico Balzaretti, Davide Astori, Marco Borriello, Leonardo Castan and Uçan. In spite of that fairly lengthy list, the depth of Roma’s squad still makes them an imperious challenge.
A man we could be seeing returning to the Etihad on Tuesday is Maicon, who left City for Roma last year after one unsuccessful season in England. He’s re-found himself back in Serie A and scored in Roma’s opening Champions League win.
A win on Tuesday could be absolutely vital for City’s European quest. If they emerge at the end of the game with a draw or a loss it’d be a very dangerous position they’re in having not won either of the first two games. Sure, there’d still be both CSKA games to come (both of which were won last season) and the visit of Bayern Munich, but City still have to go to Rome; that will not be an easy game. If any of the other three games aren’t won, it puts City in a very precarious position for qualification.
Irrespective of that, Pellegrini will feel relaxed about the visit of his Italian challengers. Relaxed yes, but also wary that players like Mattia Destro can be devastating if given the opportunity to run with the ball and shoot towards goal. Destro himself scored a 40-yard lob at the weekend, in Roma’s game against Hellas Verona. Still, the defence and the rest of the City side will feel ready for Destro and AS Roma.
