Group E was one of the more interesting groups in the Champions League this year, and it’s actually played out not far from how people expected it would. Bayern Munich ran away with first place, with four straight wins to open the group stage before falling to Manchester City in the last round.
Roma vs. Manchester City, 2014 UEFA Champions League: Time, TV schedule and game preview
Bayern Munich ran away with Group E, but Roma and Manchester City have a chance to go head-to-head to determine who else advances to the Champions League knockout rounds.
That win for City set up a huge match today, drawing them even with CSKA Moscow and AS Roma on points, setting them up for a massively important showdown with the Italian side today. If Roma win, they’re in. If City win, they’re probably in. A scoring draw favors Manchester, but a goalless draw would see Roma through as long as CSKA don’t get a result in Munich.
If they do, that complicates things in the group; Roma are through with any draw if CSKA also draw. Manchester City are basically screwed if CSKA get a result, as tiebreakers give the Russian side an advantage if they wind up even on points thanks to CSKA’s 2-1 win in Manchester last month.
No matter what, though, these two teams both know they need to achieve one thing: win this match. Manchester will have a harder time of that than they’d like with Sergio Aguero out, but they have the talent to get by without him. Roma should be able to trot out a first-choice lineup now that most of their walking wounded have returned to health, meaning watching these two very-talented squads duke it out to advance should be highly entertaining.
AS Roma injuries and suspensions
Out: Leandro Castan (head) In doubt: Vasilis Torosidis (calf)
Manchester City injuries and suspensions
Out: Sergio Aguero (knee) In doubt: Vincent Kompany (hamstring), David Silva (knee), Stevan Jovetic (knock), Fernandinho (knock), Matija Nastasic (thigh)
Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 8:45 P.M. local, 2:45 P.M. ET
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
TV: Fox Sports 1 (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sky Sports 5/HD (U.K), Canale 5 (Italy)
Online: Fox Soccer 2 GO (U.S.), Sky GO Italia (Italy), Sky GO (U.K)
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