Roma sweating on Dzeko, Totti, Keita fitness
Roma are already missing their first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny
PHOTO: AFP
MILAN:
Roma coach Rudi Garcia could be without Edin Dzeko, Seydou Keita and Francesco Totti when the Italians face BATE Borisov on Tuesday looking to maintain their positive start to the Champions League group stages.
All three players hobbled off during a 5-1 romp over league newcomers Carpi on Saturday, with reports claiming Totti -- who celebrated his 39th birthday on Sunday -- is set for a two-month layoff.
Dzeko (knee), Totti (hip flexor) and Keita (hip flexor) were all set to undergo scans on Sunday, a day before Roma travel to Belarusia two weeks after battling to a 1-1 draw with defending champions Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma are already missing their first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who suffered a finger injury in the draw against Barcelona.
Second choice 'keeper Morgan De Sanctis has stepped in, and despite fans' reservations he saved a penalty, and the rebound, on Saturday as Roma claimed their third win of the campaign to move to within four points of early pacesetters Inter Milan.
Garcia, who could welcome back right-back Alessandro Florenzi and winger Iago Falque -- both of whom sat out Saturday's fixture -- for the trip to Belarusia was left counting the cost.
"It was a pyrrhic victory," said the Frenchman as he weighed the positives of their league win against the negatives of losing three key players.
Although BATE have never beaten Italian opposition, they are bidding for a fourth consecutive home victory in the competition having accounted for Dundalk FC (2-1), Videoton FC (1-0) and FK Partizan (1-0) in the qualifying rounds and play-offs.
Previous matches against Serie A opposition finished in draws - 1-1 with AC Milan in 2011/12, and 2-2 with Juventus in 2008/09.
Roma coach Rudi Garcia could be without Edin Dzeko, Seydou Keita and Francesco Totti when the Italians face BATE Borisov on Tuesday looking to maintain their positive start to the Champions League group stages.
All three players hobbled off during a 5-1 romp over league newcomers Carpi on Saturday, with reports claiming Totti -- who celebrated his 39th birthday on Sunday -- is set for a two-month layoff.
Dzeko (knee), Totti (hip flexor) and Keita (hip flexor) were all set to undergo scans on Sunday, a day before Roma travel to Belarusia two weeks after battling to a 1-1 draw with defending champions Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma are already missing their first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who suffered a finger injury in the draw against Barcelona.
Second choice 'keeper Morgan De Sanctis has stepped in, and despite fans' reservations he saved a penalty, and the rebound, on Saturday as Roma claimed their third win of the campaign to move to within four points of early pacesetters Inter Milan.
Garcia, who could welcome back right-back Alessandro Florenzi and winger Iago Falque -- both of whom sat out Saturday's fixture -- for the trip to Belarusia was left counting the cost.
"It was a pyrrhic victory," said the Frenchman as he weighed the positives of their league win against the negatives of losing three key players.
Although BATE have never beaten Italian opposition, they are bidding for a fourth consecutive home victory in the competition having accounted for Dundalk FC (2-1), Videoton FC (1-0) and FK Partizan (1-0) in the qualifying rounds and play-offs.
Previous matches against Serie A opposition finished in draws - 1-1 with AC Milan in 2011/12, and 2-2 with Juventus in 2008/09.