‘Exceptional’ Bayern, Roma clash
All eyes on Olympiakos at Champs League
MILAN, Oct 19, (AFP): Roma coach Rudi Garcia expects the Serie A title challengers to face an “exceptional” Bayern Munich on Tuesday when the sides meet for a much-anticipated Champions League clash.
Roma warmed up for the Group E match in the Italian capital with a onesided 3-0 win over league strugglers Chievo, the goals coming from Mattia Destro, Adem Ljajic and a Francesco Totti penalty.
“Now, we can focus on the Champions League,” Garcia told Sky Sport Italia.
“I’m 100 percent confident in my players and the qualities they possess: tonight Destro and Ljajic both scored, and that’s a clear sign that everyone is determined to show that they are ready.”
Despite Chievo languishing in the far reaches of Italy’s top flight, Garcia admitted the win against the Verona side was “key” ahead of a crucial run of games for Roma’s hopes both at home and in Europe.
On what is their return to Europe following a three-year absence, Roma beat CSKA Moscow 5-1 and impressed observers on their way to a 1-1 draw away to Manchester City.
But after Bayern’s 6-0 rout of Werder Bremen on Saturday, Garcia was quick to offer plaudits to the German giants and their coach, Pep Guardiola.
“It wasn’t easy for Guardiola going to Bayern, but he’s a great coach and will continue to do well there,” said the Frenchman. “They’re an exceptional CSKA vs City beIN SPORTS 2HD, 11HD
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21:45 Local (Tuesday) squad. Bayern are ready... but we’re counting on a red hot atmosphere at the Olimpico. We can’t wait, it will be a fantastic game.”
Bayern’s win moved them four points clear of Borussia Moenchengladbach but Roma fans would perhaps be among the first to underline the fact Bremen, who now sit bottom of the Bundesliga, have been struggling all season.
Roma’s three-goal cushion by halftime gave them a chance to step slightly off the pedal after the interval.
Although the intensity was kept high Garcia, who rested Ivorian striker Gervinho throughout, was able to replace Totti on the hour mark before later sending Leandro Paredes on in place of Miralem Pjanic.
Destro opened Roma’s account with a diving header from Pjanic’s cross in the fourth minute, and told Sky Sport: “We dominated Chievo from start to finish and finished the game in determined fashion and we did well to wrap the game up in the first half.”
Juventus midfielder Roberto Pereyra said the Italian champions’ focus has already turned to their Champions League clash away to Olympiakos in the wake of a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo.
Juve’s 13-match unbeaten run came to an end in Reggio-Emilia on Saturday as the league strugglers battled for a share of the points. Juventus now hold a one-point lead over title challengers Roma at the top of Serie A after the Giallorossi’s 3-0 win over Chievo.
But Argentinian Pereyra, who is on loan at Juve from Udinese, told juventus.com: “It was a difficult game for us but we now need to turn our attention to an important encounter in Athens.
“We tailed off in the second-half tonight, yet still kept plugging away and trying to play our game.
“We had chances to score and unfortunately we weren’t able to.”
Juve travel to Athens on the back of a 1-0 Champions League defeat away to Atletico Madrid, having claimed a 2-0 win over Malmo in their Group A opener.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side sit second in the group although all four teams have so far collected three points from two games so far.
“When it is not, OK it is not, but we have to wait and see if that is true. We start on Monday against West Bromwich Albion with a victory I hope.”
United have also dropped points away from home this season at Sunderland and Burnley, and may not find it straight-forward at the Hawthorns, even though Albion are in sight of the relegation zone.
The Midlands club beat Burnley 4-0 in their most recent home game and their only defeat in four matches was a 2-1 loss at Liverpool just before the international break.
“I think West Brom are very difficult to beat, especially at their home,” Van Gaal added. “They are dangerous opponents. But no opponent in the Premier League is easy to beat.
“We have to start with a victory after the international break because we have won the last two games.
“But West Brom did that too (recently), so they also want to win the match. It won’t be easy.”
United have been helped lately by an easing of their injury problems.
After missing up to 10 players at various stages in the early weeks of the season, only Antonio Valencia (hamstring), Jonny Evans (ankle), Paddy McNair (hamstring) and Jesse Lingard (knee) are unavailable for Monday’s match, along with captain Wayne Rooney, who will be serving the second of a three-match ban.
Meanwhile, West Brom boss Alan Irvine has said only an offer well in excess of £15 million ($24 million, 19 million euros) would be enough to persuade them to sell Saido Berahino.
The 21-year-old forward has starred for club and country so far this season with five goals for the Baggies in addition to reaching double figures for England’s Under-21s en route to qualification for next year’s European Championship.
Several of England’s elite clubs have been linked with Berahino — Tottenham Hotspur being the latest — and Albion have by no means discouraged bids after Irvine recently admitted they would be prepared to cash in if the price was right.
But he said: “I would be absolutely astonished if anyone could sign Saido from us for £15 million.
“It doesn’t sound a lot. You look at some of the fees going around in the transfer market that’s just been, everybody seems to start at £7 million.
“Ross McCormack went for £11 million from one Championship club (Leeds) to another (Fulham).
“To me, £15 million doesn’t sound like a lot of money for a talented, young, English player.”
Chris Brunt (groin) has not trained since returning from Northern Ireland duty but is expected to be passed fit, however Silvestre Varela (groin) remains sidelined and Claudio Yacob will miss the game for personal reasons.