City began Group E with a heartbreaking loss at Bayern Munich, when Jerome Boateng's last-gasp deflected shot settled the game, while Roma crushed CSKA Moscow 5-1. Zabaleta has spoke of how he already see's the game against Roma as a must win. "Our job is to try to keep winning games and now we need to turn the page and just think about Champions League," he told told the club's official website.

Team News

Joe Hart will return in goal after Caballero played City's last two games. Pellegrini must also decide whether to continue with the new centre-back partnership of Belgium captain Vincent Kompany and rising French star Eliaquim Mangala following the latter's error-strewn display at Hull City. Samir Nasri has a groin problem that will keep him out for up to a month, but Jovetic and Fernando are close to a return.

Roma coach Rudi Garcia has his own injury problems; Daniele De Rossi is the latest high-profile casualty, joining the likes of Juan Iturbe, Kevin Strootman and Davide Astori on the sidelines.

Stats

- At home in last season's competition City posted two wins (5-2 v PFC CSKA Moskva, 4-2 v FC Viktoria Plzeň) but also two defeats (1-3 v Bayern, 0-2 v FC Barcelona).

- Aleksandar Kolarov's equaliser in the 1-1 draw with SSC Napoli in the 2011/12 group stage maintained City's unbeaten record at home to Serie A sides (W2, D2, L0). Morgan De Sanctis was in Napoli's goal that night.

- City's most recent victory, home or away, against an Italian team was the 3-0 triumph against AC Milan in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup third round, which secured a 5-2 aggregate success. Brian Kidd, now assistant manager, scored in both legs.

- The Giallorossi opened their Group E campaign with a 5-1 home win against CSKA.

- Roma have won only once in 14 previous visits to England — 1-0 at Liverpool FC in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup fourth round. Even then they lost the tie 2-1 on aggregate.

- Roma's most recent visit to England brought a 1-1 draw at Fulham FC in the 2009/10 UEFA Europa League group stage. De Rossi played.

Photo: Action Images

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