Roma look to Edin Dzeko, Radja Nainggolan and Daniele De Rossi as they host Champions League contenders Atletico Madrid.

It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), follow the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Barcelona-Juventus on the LIVEBLOG.

Roma look to Edin Dzeko, Radja Nainggolan and Daniele De Rossi as they host Champions League contenders Atletico Madrid.

It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), follow the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Barcelona-Juventus on the LIVEBLOG.

This is the Champions League debut for Coach Eusebio Di Francesco as well as several of his players, including the first start in the tournament for Kevin Strootman, who previously played just seven minutes as a substitute against CSKA Moscow in 2014.

The Giallorossi haven’t played in over two weeks, as after the break for international duty, Saturday’s planned Serie A match at Sampdoria was cancelled due to floods.

Bruno Peres is chosen ahead of Alessandro Florenzi at right-back, with Gregoire Defrel completing the trident attack alongside Dzeko and Diego Perotti.

Emerson Palmieri, Luca Pellegrini, Rick Karsdorp, Patrik Schick and Nura are all on the treatment table.

Roma have scored 99 goals in the Champions League, so are seeking their Century tonight.

Roma’s last Champions League victory was 680 days ago (22 months): beating Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 on November 4, 2015. That is their only win in the last 15 matches from this competition, along with six draws and eight defeats.

Atletico Madrid are old hands in the Champions League, even if they are still to win it, while ex-Lazio midfielder Diego Simeone is no stranger to the Stadio Olimpico.

He faced Roma three times as a Coach between Atleti and Catania, winning all of them 2-1.

Augusto Fernandez is out injured, but Juanfran gets the nod at right-back, while Luciano Vietto is the surprise pick in attack rather than Fernando Torres.

Kevin Gameiro had been mentioned as a possible starter, but is not even on the bench and neither is Sime Vrsaljko.

Antoine Griezmann was out of Saturday’s 0-0 Liga draw with Valencia, suspended for insulting the referee, but he’s back tonight with very impressive Spain sensation Saul Niguez.

Griezmann has been involved in 50 per cent of all Atletico Madrid’s Champions League goals over the last two seasons (13 goals and three assists).

Roma: Alisson; Bruno Peres, Manolas, Juan Jesus, Kolarov; Strootman, De Rossi, Nainggolan; Defrel, Dzeko, Perotti

Roma bench: Skorupski, Fazio, Florenzi, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Gonalons, El Shaarawy, Ünder

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godin, Filipe Luis; Saul, Gabi, Thomas, Koke; Griezmann, Vietto

Atletico Madrid bench: Moya, Lucas, Gimenez, Carrasco, Gaitan, Torres, Correa

Ref: Mazic (SRB)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tickets Kit Collector