After thrashing Roma 7-1 in last encounter, Bayern look to seal knockout berth
After a record 7-1 win in Rome, Bayern Munich does not expect another rout on Wednesday when it hosts Roma in a home Group E match in the Champions league. Bayern can seal a place in the knockout stages with a draw. Victory will guarantee first place in Group E.
In the other match, Manchester City needs a win at home to CSKA Moscow to improve its chances of advancing. Bayern leads the group with nine points from three matches; Roma has four, City two and CSKA one.
ANOTHER RECORDIJ
Bayern’s 7-1 triumph was its biggest away victory in the Champions league. If it wins again, Bayern will become the first German team to secure top spot in a group after only four matches.
Bayern players do not expect another rout like the 7-1 victory in Italy. “Roma has learned something from the first match, they will play differently,” said Mario Goetze. “Our goal is to take three points and make everything clear, but we should not start celebrating too early.”
PROBlEMS FOR ROMA
little has gone right for Roma coach Rudi Garcia since his side’s 7-1 mauling by Bayern. Roma has drawn at Sampdoria and lost against Napoli to slip three points behind Serie A leaders Juventus.
“Our attitude was wrong from the start,” Garcia said. “The problem was a mental one and we will reflect on that. We have to improve and, even if it is the first time it happens, it cannot happen again.”
lAMPARD MISSES OUT
Frank lampard is out of the tie against CSKA Moscow due to injury. lampard missed last month’s encounter in which City squandered a two-goal lead and drew 2-2.
City is third in Group E. Victory is essential if Manuel Pellegrini’s team is to qualify for the knockout stages. Their confidence was boosted Sunday when they beat local rivals Manchester United 1-0 in the Premier league.
CHElSEA GO TO MARIBOR
Unbeaten in all competitions this season, Chelsea has been in stellar form and could ensure itself a spot in the knockout stage of the Champions league with a win on Wednesday.
Victory over Maribor in Group G, along with Sporting lisbon failing to beat Schalke, would be enough for the london club to advance.
Sporting, looking to turn around its season, is winless in this season’s tournament and sixth in the Portuguese league. But the team was denied a point against Schalke in October when Adrien Silva was penalized for handball, although replays showed the ball hit his chest.
Chelsea has already beaten Maribor, routing the Slovenian club 6-0 at Stamford Bridge, and leads the Premier league by four points. Maribor is third after drawing 1-1 in its other matches against Sporting and Schalke.
Schalke travels to Portugal without attacking midfielder Julian Draxler, who is out for the year with a hamstring injury. Sporting is winless after three Champions league games with the president Bruno de Carvalho saying the team had embarrassed the club.
SUAREZ RETURNS TO AJAX
After two defeats since luis Suarez came into the team, Barcelona seeks to recover when the Uruguayan striker returns to Amsterdam to face former club Ajax in a Group F fixture.
Barcelona was beaten 3-1 at Real Madrid and then relinquished the leadership of la liga on Sunday after a home defeat by Celta Vigo.
Coach luis Enrique’s squad needs to fix defense frailties and a misfiring attack to avoid a third loss since the usually prolific Suarez returned to action after suspension. In a clash of two four-time European champions, Ajax will hope to repeat its Champions league victory last season. Barcelona has won only two of its last nine European away matches, losing five.
Barca’s task is made tougher by the absence of injured playmaker Andres Iniesta and defenders Thomas Vermaelen and Jeremy Mathieu.
Suarez will be playing his first Champions league game for Barcelona following suspension for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
last year, Ajax beat Barcelona 2-1 thanks to a dazzling first-half attacking display and then determined defending. "Maybe we should watch the videos of last year," said midfielder lasse Schone.
Barcelona is second in Group F, a point behind PSG. Ajax, with two draws and a defeat so far, is third, one point ahead of Apoel Nicosia.
TEETHING TROUBlES
Suarez struggled to integrate into the Barcelona team against Real Madrid.
"I felt tactically lost and disorganized at the Bernabeu," he said. "I couldn’t coordinate things well."
He shot wide, was involved in a mix-up in the area and looked unable to sprint clear of opponents.
He said the team had trained to improve things and he was slowly feeling more used to the formation.
He added that he felt close to fellow latin Americans lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano.
"There are many cultural similarities between Argentina and Uruguay. It’s not because it’s leo, but because he’s South American and we get together a lot."
PSG WITHOUT IBRAHIMOVIC
A win against APOEl should see PSG fans celebrate their club’s qualification for the knockout phase if Barcelona beats Ajax.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss the match because of a left heel injury. The 33-year-old striker has not played since September 21. PSG coach laurent Blanc said the Sweden international could be back for the match against bitteral rivals Marseille on Sunday.
APOEl, travelling to Paris, lost at home to PSG last month, going down 1-0 thanks to Edinson Cavani’s late winner. In nine Champions league away games, APOEl has drawn five and lost four.
Porto travels to Bilbao
Porto is in elite company after an unbeaten start to the season and hopes to keep that record intact on a tricky trip to Athletic Bilbao for a Group H game.
The Portuguese are unbeaten in Europe this season, but has a poor record historically for away matches in Spain.
Elsewhere, Shakhtar Donetsk hosts BATE Borisov.
Porto is on top of Group H with seven points from three matches. Coach Julen lopetegui knows Bilbao well.
His knowledge of Bilbao will be needed to help Porto buck a poor record in Spain where it has five wins and 14 defeats from 21 matches.
Athletic has one point on its return to the elite. The Basques opened with a goalless draw against Shakhtar and then lost to BATE Borisov and at Porto.