Without a win yet in the Champions League this season, Roma must ensure that changes on Wednesday if they are to maintain hope of reaching the last 16.
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Wednesday sees them host Leverkusen and victory would take them above the Germans and is likely to take them into second, considering third place BATE are away at Barcelona.
“We need a win and we intend to get one”.
“We’re fully focused on the match against Roma”, Hernandez told the Bundesliga website. “Then we’ll turn our attention to the derby”.
Bayer Leverkusen look impressive in front of goal since the 4-4 draw with Roma.
Serie A disciplinary bosses said that at the end of the match, Italy global De Rossi “celebrated Roma’s win by putting both hands down towards the lower half of his body and making an offensive gesture to Lazio’s fans”.
Roma’s defeat to Inter was the first time they had failed to score in 25 fixtures in all competitions, but Dzeko has scored only once in 11 outings for the Giallorossi. He wanted to leave England because he couldn’t find playing time and now he has gotten just that in Serie A. The problem is that he is just not scoring like many said he would if he got more playing time.
Garcia, however, said he was “encouraged” by Roma’s defensive performance at the San Siro. Leverkusen are still smarting from a 2-1 defeat at Wolfsburg on Saturday when Nicklas Bendtner hit a clearly offside opening goal for the hosts.
Leverkusen’s sporting director Rudi Voller, who scored 45 goals in 142 Serie A appearances for Roma in 1987-1992, said he “can’t wait” to return to the “Eternal City”. On the plus side, ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Javier Hernandez has hit great form of late, scoring six goals in his last four games, including a brace in the 4-4 draw a fortnight ago.
Given that they are the bottom of their group, its important that Roma come out with all three points to give them a fighting chance to qualify for the knockout rounds.
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As for the Bayer Leverkusen, Charles Aranguiz, Roberto Hilbert, Tin Jedvaj and Seung-Woo Ry are all out of contention through injury, whilst Lars Bender and Kevin Kampl are doubtful and the duo will be monitored ahead of the kick-off.
