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Journalism of Courage
The calculators will be out in force as AS Roma and Manchester City clash for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday with outsiders CSKA Moscow lurking in the background. The head-to-head rule which UEFA use to separate teams who are level on points means that all sorts of complex connotations are possible as the three sides bid to follow runaway Group E leaders Bayern Munich into the next round.
City have never won a match in Italy in four previous attempts and, even if they break that taboo, could still suffer another group stage exit. Roma’s fate is in their own hands as a win will be enough for them while a draw, paradoxically, could send either themselves or City through, depending on CSKA’s performance.
Roma, City and CSKA all have five points after mediocre campaigns in a group dominated by Bayern. A win for Roma, still in the hunt despite losing 7-1 at home to the Bavarians, will guarantee them a second place finish, even if CSKA also win, as the Serie A side would have the better head-to-head record against the Russians. CSKA can only qualify if they win in Munich and Roma fail to beat City while City will qualify if they win and CSKA do not.
The rule fun begins if Roma and City draw. If CSKA also draw, Roma would go through, and if the Russians lose, it would come down to the head-to-head record between the Serie A and English side. A goalless draw would favour Roma and a score draw would do for City.
City have gone out in the group stage twice in three attempts and their task has been made ever harder after Sergio Aguero was injured against Everton on Saturday. City will also be without midfielder Yaya Toure who is suspended, while skipper Vincent Kompany, and midfielders Stefan Jovetic and Fernandinho face late fitness tests.
Wednesday’s fixtures: Chelsea vs Sporting; Porto vs Shakhtar Donetsk; Roma vs Manchester; Bayern München vs CSKA Moscow; Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain; Ajax vs APOEL; Maribor vs Schalke 04; Athletic Club vs BATE Borisov.
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