Champions League Group E preview: Roma must perform

Roma will need to be at their best when they host high-flying Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

The German champions are unbeaten in their four group matches, which includes a 2-0 win over Roma in September.

The Giallorossi and coach Claudio Ranieri know they cannot afford any slip-ups against a powerful Munich side that has scored 11 goals in Champions League action and conceded only three.

The Bavarians have already qualified for the last 16 but it is unlikely they will make things any easier for their Italian opponents.

In-form striker Mario Gomez insists they will still be looking for the win.

“We need one more point to top the group but if you play for a draw you end up losing,” he said.

“Hence we’ll be going to Rome to try to win and make their lives as hard as possible.”

Roma must at least share the spoils – or better still inflict on their visitors a first Champions League defeat – to ease the pressure which Basel and Cluj, who both have three points, will exert.

With one eye on the remaining group fixture away to Cluj on December 8, Roma must be prepared to attack on Tuesday.

Ranieri will look to in-form French winger Jeremy Menez, who scored in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Udinese in the Serie A, to be the game breaker.

“Menez is a diamond who is finding fluidity. He still has a lot he can improve on but he’s on the right track,” Ranieri said.

“This positive run shows that we were never in crisis but simply going through a bad time.”

“We’ve got our heads back up and that’s thanks to the tenacity and desire of the lads.”

“We know what we want and where we want to get to, every match is a crucial objective.”

In stark contrast to Europe, Bayern have been struggling domestically.

After a poor start in which they lost three of their first seven games – including back-to-back defeats to Mainz and Borussia Dortmund – Bayern have since improved winning three straight at home, although drawing three in a row away.

Even so, they are down in eighth in the Bundesliga and 14 points off leaders Dortmund.

Coach Louis van Gaal seems more concerned about their ability to retain their title, although he insists things are improving.

“We’ve not lost for nine games now, we’re playing better football, we’re scoring goals, but it doesn’t feel good when you fail to win,” he said after the 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen.

“That was another match we could have won. I think we still have a chance of the title, but Dortmund obviously have the best chance now.”

Bayern will be without captain Mark van Bommel (knee) and Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is suspended.

Playmaker Arjen Robben, striker Miroslav Klose, defender Holger Badstuber and striker Ivica Olic are all out injured, although France winger Franck Ribery will play some part.

In the other group match, Basel and Cluj both have three points but need Roma to falter badly if either are to go through to the knockout stages.

Cluj beat Basel 2-1 in their home leg but were beaten 4-0 by Bayern in Romania earlier this month.