EN
Home News

Champions League decider: 10 things you need to know

Champions League decider: 10 things you need to know

Roma host BATE in a game that will determine which team from Group E will progress to the knock out stages of the Champions League. Here’s 10 things you need to know…

1. Barcelona have won Group E, regardless of whether they win, lose or draw away to Bayer Leverkusen tonight.

2. Roma lead Leverkusen on head-to-head results so will go through to the last 16 with victory over BATE.

3. Leverkusen need to win and hope Roma do not gain victory to finish in the top two. A draw would confirm Leverkusen in third regardless of the other result.

4. BATE must win to stay in Europe and to finish second must hope Leverkusen do not win.

5. Roma were without star striker Edin Dzeko in their first meeting with BATE in Belarus when Rudi Garcia’s side succumbed to a 3-2 defeat. However, the Bosnian is expected to start tonight and has managed five goals in his last eight appearances for club and country.

6. After suffering a nasty ankle injury in Roma's 2-0 Derby della Capitale victory, the club looks set to welcome back Mohamed Salah, who returned to full training with the group this week. The Egyptian international has managed six goals in all competitions for the Giallorossi this season and only Miralem Pjanic and Gervinho have more league goals.

7. While the number of goals Roma have conceded in Europe this season has been well documented, it shouldn’t be forgotten that before last night’s first round of final group games, Roma were tied for 4th in terms of goals scored in this season’s Champions League group stage - 11 goals in 5 matches.

8. Should he partake in the match, Roma midfielder Seydou Keita will make his 66th Champions League appearance, the most of anyone on the Giallorossi's squad.

9. If Roma advance to the Champions League Round of 16, which begin on 16 February, they would draw a winner of any group except one from their own country and their own group. Potential opponents include Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid or Manchester City, who have already qualified. Other potential opponents include Bayern Munich, Chelsea / Porto and Zenit – who all currently sit top of their respective groups going into the final game.

10. Should Roma qualify, they will learn their fate during the Round of 16 draw on 14 December 2015.