Roma will rely on 'Double D'

Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan says his team's "desire and determination" will be the keys to beating BATE Borisov when they clash in a Champions League Group E match on Wednesday.

Roma hosts the Belarusian champion looking to book its ticket for the knockout phase for the first time since being outclassed 6-2 on aggregate by Shakhtar Donetsk in 2011.

But two weeks after a 6-1 drubbing by champion Barcelona left it second in Group E with the same number of points as third-place Bayer Leverkusen, with BATE only a point further behind, Roma remains stuck in crisis mode.

Roma's Nou Camp calamity was followed by a 2-0 home defeat to Atalanta and Rudi Garcia's men dropped more points in a 1-1 draw away to Torino last Saturday.

Although still in title contention at five points behind Inter Milan, the pressure is building on Garcia after watching his side slip several times in this group campaign.

But Belgian international Nainggolan, one of Roma's key midfield components, has given Garcia his backing.

"We have plenty of belief, we're a strong group and we're just waiting to get back to winning ways," Nainggolan said after Saturday's draw in Turin.

"We showed lots of desire and that's the first thing you need to get results. Good football comes after that.

"We have a Champions League match to prepare for on Wednesday, which will be tough, just as today's game was.

"We have to approach it with the same desire and determination. We know we have to win to go through, so we'll knuckle down and try to secure the points against BATE."

A win would be the first of any kind for Roma since it beat Lazio 2-0 in the city derby at the beginning of last month, but the fact Group E is wide open won't make the task any easier. The three clubs sitting behind Barcelona can still snatch second.

While Roma would also qualify if it draws and Leverkusen fails to beat Barcelona, a Leverkusen win coupled with a Roma draw or defeat would see the Bundesliga side advance.

If BATE beats Roma for the second time in this campaign and Leverkusen fails to win in Germany, the Belarusians will advance to the knockout stage for the first time.

Having conceded 18 goals in 15 league games and 16 in Group E, Roma's chances would perk up with an overall improvement in its defensive game.

But in the high-octane atmosphere of a Champions League decider, who scores first could be key. The spotlight is firmly on Roma striker Edin Dzeko, although the Bosnian is likely to be without at least one of his two wingmen.

Cote d'Ivoire winger Gervinho returned from a thigh muscle problem on Saturday only to limp off 26 minutes into the game and, having trained apart from the squad on Monday, looks to be unavailable.

In the absence of Gervinho and Mohamed Salah, Roma remains winless but hopes are growing the Egyptian could yet win his fitness battle.

Roma's failure to reach the last 16 for the second consecutive year would cost it millions.

James Pallotta, the club's American president, seemed to underline that observation with this curt response on Saturday: "I'm not satisfied."

Leverkusen braced for Barca

Bayer Leverkusen must break its six-match losing streak against reigning champion Barcelona on Wednesday if it is to have any chance of reaching the Champions League's knockout stages.

Leverkusen lost 2-1 at Camp Nou in October and wants to avoid a repeat of the 6-1 pounding Barcelona dished out to Roma two weeks ago when Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi ran riot.

Roger Schmidt's squad faces the uphill task of having to beat Barcelona while hoping Roma drops points at home to BATE in Wednesday's other game in order to leap the Italians in the group and snatch a place in the last 16.

The status of Leverkusen captain Lars Bender, coming off an ankle injury, will be a game-time decision.

The Germans are looking to reach the last 16 for the third year running, but have not won in Group E since beating BATE 4-1 in September.

"We'll need to take all of the few chances which come our way against Barcelona," said defender Omer Toprak.

Undefeated in Europe this season, Barcelona, coached by Luis Enrique, has already booked its place in the last 16 as group winner, while Leverkusen is third in the standings.

Enrique is not likely to play a full-strength side having already won the group and the Spanish giant has a busy period coming up with the Club World Cup starting in Japan next week, followed by league games over New Year's week.

Barcelona has Messi back in its lineup, but Dani Alves is out due to suspension and Mathieu, Sergi Roberto, Douglas and Rafinha are injured.

Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is set to play having recovered from a knee problem to play with the Spanish giant on his home soil.

(China Daily 12/09/2015 page24)