This match could serve as a final decider for how group E shakes out in this year's Champions League. Bayern Munich have already secured the top qualification seed of the group, thanks to winning all four matches so far and standing eight points clear of both Russian side CSKA Moscow and Italians AS Roma. Those two go head-to-head today, and a win for either side has the potential to decide who else goes through.
CSKA Moscow vs. AS Roma, 2014 UEFA Champions League: Time, TV schedule and game preview
AS Roma has a chance to clinch knockout qualification with a road win against CSKA Moscow, but they’ll need their injury-battered defense to hold up in order to pull it off.
Should Roma win in Russia, something they’ve managed their last three trips out that way, including wins in Moscow in 2001 and 1991, they’ll lock up second place in the group as long as Bayern beat Manchester City, a result that seems all but assured given City’s poor European form this year. Should CSKA win, they’ll have a big leg up on Roma going in to the last match day, but would still need to make sure to earn at least a draw against Bayern to avoid tiebreakers, as Roma could catch them if they beat City in that final match.
Key player - Mattia Destro (Roma)
While much of the media focus is on Roma’s ailing back line, it’s their attack that could have the biggest impact on this match. The best way for Roma to relieve pressure on their defense will be to come out swinging right out of the gate and try to get a couple of early goals, and that means that Destro will need to be on his game. If he can score a goal or help set one up for Gervinho or Francisco Totti early on, Roma could grab this match by the throat and put themselves through to the knockout rounds.
Key Matchup - Seydou Doumbia vs. Kostas Manolas
Doumbia is one of the best strikers to ply his trade in Russia in recent years, and thanks to Roma’s injury crisis in defence, Manolas will have to contain him essentially on his own. While Davide Astori is a solid enough defender, his skillset isn’t one that can handle a striker like Doumbia. How well Manolas handles those duties will go a long ways towards determining how this match plays out; if Doumbia takes him to school, it’s going to be a rough day indeed for the Romans.
CSKA Moscow injuries and suspensions
Out: Rasmus Elm (stomach), Bebras Natcho (unspecified) In doubt: Pontus Wernbloom (unspecified)
AS Roma injuries and suspensions
Out: Leandro Castan (head), Maicon (knee), Vasilis Torosidis (calf), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (thigh) In doubt: Kevin Strootman (knee), Marco Borriello (thigh)
CSKA come in to this match mostly at full strength, with only Natcho representing a significant loss to how they've been operating this season. Roma, on the other hand, are in a full-blown injury crisis on the back line. Castan was their leader back there, but now his career is in doubt thanks to the random cruelty of a malformation in his brain. Yanga-Mbiwa, who's been a pleasant surprise for Roma this season, is now out as well, and Maicon continues to hang out at the training table with the knee injury that's been plaguing him this season. Even Vasilis Torosidis, who went from afterthought to crucial squad member thanks to injuries, is hurt himself. Roma are scrambling to put together a functioning back line right now, going so far as to deploy Alessandro Florenzi, normally an attacking midfielder, at right back in Serie A action this weekend.
Match Date/Time: Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. local, 12:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Arena Khimki, Moscow, Russia
TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sky Calcio 1 (Italy), NTV (Russia)
Online: Fox Soccer 2GO (U.S.), ESPN3 (U.S.), Sky Go Italia (Italy), NTV+ Sport Online (Russia)
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