ROME - If anyone can breach Bayern Munich's apparently impregnable defence, then it is AS Roma and their talismanic forward Francesco Totti.
Last year's Serie A runners-up, who host Bayern at the Stadio Olimpico in a Champions League Group E match today, have hit the target in each of their nine games this season, scoring a total of 20 goals with Totti providing three of those plus four assists.
Just past his 38th birthday and in his 23rd season at his only professional club, Totti has been a fundamental part of Roma's resurgence under French coach Rudi Garcia.
Garcia had initially planned to rest Totti for Saturday's match against strugglers Chievo but changed his mind at the last minute. Totti responded by converting a penalty in the 3-0 win.
"I couldn't have started this match without the captain," said Garcia. "It was an important game and we need to get back on the winning trail."
Totti, who became the oldest player to score in the Champions League in the 1-1 draw away to Manchester City last month, scored the winning goal when Roma hit back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 when Roma last faced Bayern, almost exactly four years ago.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola will be well aware of the dangers as he played alongside Totti and Daniele de Rossi in a brief spell at Roma in 2002-03.
The Bavarians will provide the stiffest of tests for Roma.
Unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions since losing to Borussia Dortmund in the season-opening German Super Cup clash, they have kept eight successive clean sheets and have not conceded a goal since the 1-1 draw with Schalke on August 30, a total of 748 minutes.
Roma, while not as dominant, have been almost as impressive, winning six out of seven Serie A games and taking four points from their opening two matches in the Champions League.
It is the sort of match that Garcia has been looking forward to ever since he took over at the start of last season.
"On Tuesday, we will be the outsiders, facing one of the best teams in the world," said Garcia. "Bayern are very strong and I really can't wait to play this game, as the Stadio Olimpico atmosphere will be fantastic." - Reuters
Roma resurgent
ROME - If anyone can breach Bayern Munich's apparently impregnable defence, then it is AS Roma and their talismanic forward Francesco Totti.
Last year's Serie A runners-up, who host Bayern at the Stadio Olimpico in a Champions League Group E match today, have hit the target in each of their nine games this season, scoring a total of 20 goals with Totti providing three of those plus four assists.
Just past his 38th birthday and in his 23rd season at his only professional club, Totti has been a fundamental part of Roma's resurgence under French coach Rudi Garcia.
Garcia had initially planned to rest Totti for Saturday's match against strugglers Chievo but changed his mind at the last minute. Totti responded by converting a penalty in the 3-0 win.
"I couldn't have started this match without the captain," said Garcia. "It was an important game and we need to get back on the winning trail."
Totti, who became the oldest player to score in the Champions League in the 1-1 draw away to Manchester City last month, scored the winning goal when Roma hit back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 when Roma last faced Bayern, almost exactly four years ago.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola will be well aware of the dangers as he played alongside Totti and Daniele de Rossi in a brief spell at Roma in 2002-03.
The Bavarians will provide the stiffest of tests for Roma.
Unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions since losing to Borussia Dortmund in the season-opening German Super Cup clash, they have kept eight successive clean sheets and have not conceded a goal since the 1-1 draw with Schalke on August 30, a total of 748 minutes.
Roma, while not as dominant, have been almost as impressive, winning six out of seven Serie A games and taking four points from their opening two matches in the Champions League.
It is the sort of match that Garcia has been looking forward to ever since he took over at the start of last season.
"On Tuesday, we will be the outsiders, facing one of the best teams in the world," said Garcia. "Bayern are very strong and I really can't wait to play this game, as the Stadio Olimpico atmosphere will be fantastic." - Reuters
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