MILAN: Roma coach Rudi Garcia has promised Bayern Munich a red-hot welcome when the Bundesliga giants arrive in the Italian capital looking to spoil the Giallorossi's great start to the Champions League.
Roma warmed up for today’s Group-E clash with a resounding 3-0 defeat of Chievo on Saturday, and although Pep Guardiola's side routed Werder Bremen 6-0, Garcia wants a packed-out Stadio Olimpico to give the hosts something extra.
"Bayern are ready and they will be on a high but we're counting on a red-hot atmosphere at the Olimpico. We can't wait, it will be a fantastic game," said Garcia after Saturday's win, which left Roma just a point adrift of Serie A leaders Juventus.
Roma have made a remarkable return to the Champions League after a three-year absence, following up a 5-1 defeat of CSKA Moscow with a creditable 1-1 draw away to Manchester City.
Bayern have registered back-to-back wins over the same opposition and, after their weekend waltz in the Bundesliga, Guardiola's men should be brimming with confidence.
However, the 43-year-old Spaniard may have mixed emotions on his return to the Olimpico.
As a player, Guardiola spent a season at Roma (2002-2003) that was notably marked by a positive test for the banned drug nandrolone, leading to a four-month ban.
It took two appeals and several years before he was cleared of any wrongdoing, pre-empting the end of his playing career with Al Ahli of Qatar and Mexican side Dorados, as well as his well-documented, and far more impressive coaching career.
Bayern's 6-0 win over struggling Bremen moved them four points clear of Borussia Moenchengladbach at the top of Germany's top flight, but striker Thomas Mueller expects a far tighter game against Roma.
"It won't be decided quickly, but will be the sort of game which hangs in the balance," Mueller said Sunday following training.
"The main thing is to take at least a point, so that we stay top in the group."
Barca target Ajax boost ahead of Clasico
Barcelona begin the biggest week of coach Luis Enrique's brief reign in charge when Dutch champions Ajax visit the Camp Nou today.
Enrique's men are in need of a win to get their Champions League campaign back on track after tasting defeat for the first time this season in their last European outing at Paris Saint-Germain.
And the Barca boss will be hoping for a trouble free evening with the first El Clasico of the season away to Real Madrid to come on Saturday.
"What concerns me now is that they recover, rest and go into the game on Tuesday [today] in the best condition possible," said Enrique after his side's 3-0 win over Eibar on Saturday.
The Catalans will certainly need to defend better than they did in their last outing against Ajax in losing 2-1 in Amsterdam last November.
Sound of silence no boost to Pellegrini
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said playing in an empty stadium won't help his side when they travel to Russia for their potentially decisive Champions League match against CSKA Moscow today.
European football governing body UEFA have ordered CSKA to play the game behind closed doors because of racist behaviour by their fans
"I think that affects football,” said Pellegrini. “I don't think it is the best way to play, not only for our team but for the Russian team.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea may be five points clear at the top of the Premier League and unbeaten in top-flight domestic action this season but they are determined not to be caught off guard when they face Maribor in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge today.
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