Preview: Roma vs. CSKA Moscow

Italian giants Roma start their Champions League campaign on Wednesday with a home tie against CSKA Moscow.

Rudi Garcia's side return to the competition for the first time in three years after finishing second in Serie A last season.

Saturday's 1-0 success over Empoli means that the club sit second in the table, with six points from two games.

CSKA currently lie fourth in the Russian Premier League after five wins from their opening seven fixtures.

Leonid Slutski's team lost all three away games in last season's group stage to Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Viktoria Plzen.

Garcia will be without influential midfielder Daniele De Rossi, who is serving a one-match European ban.

CSKA midfielders Alan Dzagoev and Pontus Wernbloom will serve the first of their three-game bans against Roma.

Recent form

Roma: WW

CSKA Moscow: WLLWW

Possible starting lineups

Roma: De Sanctis; Manolas, Castan, Maicon, Cole; De Rossi, Nainggolan, Pjanic, Florenzi; Ljajic, Destro

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev; Nababkin, Ignashevich, Berezutski, Fernandes; Natcho, Eremenko; Milanov, Doumbia, Tosic; Musa

Sports Mole says 2-1