Group E is the only one of the eight Champions Leaguegroups where all four teams can still progress going into the sixth and final matchday. On Wednesday night Manchester City will take part in the biggest match of their season so far against AS Roma in the Stadio Olimpico. It’s an almost all or nothing clash for Pellegrini’s men, with 3 teams sat on 5 points heading into the final fixtures of the group stage there’s everything to play for.
Bayern Munich have already been confirmed as the group winners, but Roma, CSKA Moscow and Manchester City can all join the German giants as they go into Wednesday's games all on five points.
For Premier League champions City to progress, they have to beat Roma at the Stadio Olimpico and hope that CSKA do not produce a massive shock in Munich.
They will also go through with a score draw and CSKA defeat, but a loss of their own would see them eliminated from Europe altogether.
A win for Roma would send them through, while a draw will be good enough if Bayern and CSKA also ends level. If Bayern beat CSKA as expected, a goalless draw will do for Roma, but not a score draw.
As if the pressure on Manchester City wasn’t already massive, they will now have to go into the clash with Roma missing a few of their key players. Sergio Aguero’s injury on Saturday means that there will be no repeat of his heroics from the Bayern game that kept City’s European dream alive. As if missing their best player so far this season wasn’t enough they will also be without Yaya Toure at the heart of their midfield. The big man from the Ivory Coast is still serving his suspension. Maybe most importantly they will be without their captain Vincent Kompany. A night like this, with what is at stake is exactly the type of match you need the leader of your team. Kompany’s absence could be sorely felt as he won’t be to push the team through what should be an epic battle against Totti and his colleagues.
AS Roma come into the clash off the back of their 2-2 draw with Sassuolo. For that game though the decision was taken to rest several key men for the match with City. Gervinho, Totti and Ashley Cole were all able to rest themselves for the match in hope that they will be ready and firing for the English side’s arrival. They were also able to welcome back Kevin Strootman for the first time since his knee surgery. Whether Strootman will start against City after such a long layoff is unclear but his presence back in the squad will be a huge lift to the Italians and he could play some part in the game. With a near fully fit side available to him for the visit of Manchester City Rudi Garcia could be confident of getting the result needed to secure his sides safe passage to the Knockout Round.
Roma:
Form in Champions League: WDLLD
Form in all competitions: LWWDWD
Man City:
Form in Champions League: LLDDLW
Form in all competitions: DWWWWW
- Roma have scored atleast 2 goals in every home game they’ve played so far this season
- Roma have won their last 3 home games against Premier League opposition
- Man City haven’t won a game in Italy. Their record is 2 draws and 2 defeats
- City’s most recent victory, home or away, against an Italian team was the 3-0 triumph against AC Milan in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup third round
- In 2 seasons with Arsenal Gervinho never beat Man City in 3 attempts
- As a Newcastle United player Yanga-Mbiwa lost all 3 times he played against Man City
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