Roma have progressed to the quarter finals of the Champions League forthe last two seasons, and will be confident of making the first knockout round again after the draw put them in a group with Chelsea, Bordeaux and CFR Cluj.

The Giallorossi start their campaign tonight atthe Stadio Olimpico against Romanian champions Cluj, which are really unknown outsiders in the competition. Cluj boast a team full of South American talent, with three Brazilians and six Argentinians. Roma are favourites to win the encounter despite the fact that Juan, Philippe Mexes, Simone Perrotta, Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi are allout with injuries. Roma lost to Palermo at the weekend and will bekeen to get a good result to start the Champions League season well.

Peter Pedroncelli - footballitaliano.org

The Italian Challenge

Tuesday

Roma v CFR Cluj, Group A

Panathinaikos v Inter, Group B

Wednesday

Lyon v Fiorentina, Group F

Juventus v Zenit St Petersburg, Group H