WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 S P O R T S Barcelona begin title defence against Roma ROME: AS Roma supporters may be looking ahead to Barcelona’s Champions League visit with some trepidation and coach Rudi Garcia certainly does not seem to be burst- ing with optimism. Roma have finished second in Serie A for the last two seasons but still there is still a clear gap between them- selves and Europe’s top clubs, despite the addition of Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah. Barcelona’s visit to the Stadio Olimpico today, which kicks off their Champions League title defence, comes just under a year after Roma lost 7-1 at home to Bayern Munich in the same competition. The Bavarians sliced through the Roma defence almost at will as they scored five goals in a bewildering half hour spell in the first half. Roma went on to finish third in the group after taking one point in two games off Manchester City while domesti- cally they have come up short in matches against Juventus, with three defeats in their last four league meetings, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho With that in mind, Garcia has already made it clear that he would be happy to finish second in a group that also includes Champions League regulars Bayer Leverkusen and Belarus champions BATE Borisov. “The target in the Chelsea’s chance to Champions League is to get past the group stage and to the round of 16,” Garcia said in an interview last week with Radio Monte Carlo. “Behind Barcelona, it is an open group.” pull out of slump There was just a hint of optimism when he said: “Everybody is convinced that they will get 18 points, so LONDON: Out-of-sorts Chelsea have a the first time since 2004-05 after coming that implies getting six off us, but sometimes miracles hap- golden opportunity to restore battered through the qualifying rounds, thanks pen in football. self-confidence when they face Maccabi Tel almost entirely to forward Eran Zahavi who “We’ve got nothing to lose and we’ve got to do all we Aviv in their opening Champions League has scored 12 goals in total this season. can to upset the odds.” The match takes Barcelona coach Group G match yesterday. Although 2012 European champions Luis Enrique back to the club where he spent an unimpres- The Premier League champions Chelsea and Maccabi have never met, visit- sive season in 2011/12, when Roma were clearly in transi- slumped to their fourth defeat in six games ing coach Slavisa Jokanovic and defender tion. when they lost 3-1 at Everton on Saturday. Tal Ben Haim know all about the Stamford The two sides last met 13 years ago, again in the Manager Jose Mourinho said he was under Bridge club. Champions League second group stage, when they drew no pressure after the match but, according Jokanovic, who was manager when 1-1 in Barcelona and Roma won the return 3-0 with Luis to media reports, he swore at Everton Watford were promoted to the Premier Enrique in the Barcelona side. counterpart Roberto Martinez after being League last season, had a two-year playing Incredibly, there is one playing survivor from those made to wait for his post-match news con- spell at Chelsea. games - Roma playmaker Francesco Totti who will 39 at the ference. He made 53 appearances in midfield, end of the month. Earlier, Mourinho admitted the poor run playing in the same side as a young John “I want to win at least one title with my captain, of results were the worst of his career but Terry, while Ben Haim also had a stint at the Francesco Totti,” said Garcia. “I don’t know if Totti or the added he was the man to lead Chelsea out Bridge, featuring 23 times for the Blues. Pope are more important in Rome, but I can certainly say of their hole. Although Chelsea are vastly more expe- that for Francesco, the Roma shirt is like a second stint. The Portuguese has also fallen out with rienced than Maccabi and should win, sea- “He’s an extraordinary player, on and off the field, and we club doctor Eva Carneiro and had another soned campaigner Gal Alberman says his SPAIN: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (right) celebrates with team mates after are just pacing him in training, but he never asks for any public spat with old adversary Arsene team are not coming to London simply to scoring in this file photo. —AP special favors.” —Reuters Wenger after losing to his Arsenal side in make up the numbers. the Community Shield season curtain-rais- “We are fully aware of the difference in er at Wembley. Chelsea take on the Israeli levels between us and Chelsea but we are double winners on Wednesday having lost not going there to surrender with our their last two league matches. The hands up,” said Alberman. Bayern ready to step on Londoners will again be without injured “We will do all we can to get a good keeper Thibaut Courtois who was out- result,” he told reporters after Maccabi drew standing when they won the Premier 1-1 with Hapoel Kiryat Shmona on the gas against Olympiakos League last season. Saturday. Dynamo Kiev and Porto meet in Maccabi are back in the competition for the other Group G match today. —AFP PIRAEUS: German champions Bayern Munich the start and not from the 46th minute as we Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. “We need to be will be stepping on the gas against did against Augsburg. “We need to step more able to turn on the switch.” Olympiakos in their Champions League group on the gas,” the Poland striker said, with Bayern Bayern’s big name absences mean little for stage opener in Piraeus today, hoping to kick also due to play Dinamo Zagreb and Arsenal in Olympiakos, who are well aware of the monu- Valencia host Zenit off their European campaign with a perform- Group F. Bayern, who won the last of their five mental task ahead. “I do not think we should BARCELONA: Andre Villas-Boas and Nuno He has since vowed to depart at the ance worthy of a title contender. Bayern coach European Cups in 2013, will be without talk too much about the players missing Espirito Santo both experienced victory at end of this season, but there’s speculation Pep Guardiola, in his third season in charge wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. because it makes no difference. There is so the highest level under former boss Jose he may not last that long. Zenit’s troubles and still chasing his first European crown with Douglas Costa, in fine form since joining much quality in their squad,” said Olympiakos Mourinho. Now the Portuguese managers in Russia mean European competition the Germans, was unhappy with his team’s them in the close season, is again expected to defender Omar Elabdellaoui. of Zenit St. Petersburg and Valencia will could be a welcome relief for Villas-Boas. last-gasp 2-1 win over Augsburg in the start on the left, with teenager Kingsley Coman The Greek title holders, who have won their face off as their teams start their Zenit’s first game is perhaps its tough- Bundesliga on Saturday, pledging for a quicker, also an option after the talented Frenchman last six home fixtures in the Champions Champions League campaigns today. est, away to Valencia. While Zenit has no more focused game against the Greek champi- came on as a substitute for his Bayern debut League, have also reinforced their squad, Zenit’s Villas-Boas was an assistant to injury worries, the club has lost all seven ons. against Augsburg. bringing in experienced former Argentina mid- Mourinho when the current Cheslea man- prior trips to Spain. The Bavarians needed an 90th minute Central defenders Medhi Benatia and fielder Esteban Cambiasso. ager guided FC Porto to the Champions When it visits Gent, Lyon will be hop- penalty from Thomas Mueller, a controversial Holger Badstuber will also miss the game They are also on an 11-match unbeaten run League title in 2004. ing star striker Alexandre Lacazette finally decision that referee Knut Kircher admitted lat- through injury with Javi Martinez likely to be in all competitions stretching back to April, As a coach in his own right, Villas-Boas lives up to his lucrative new contract. The er was a mistake, to edge past their opponents included in the squad after recovering from a which also included three wins out of three has since had success at Porto, failed at 24-year-old Frenchman was voted the and maintain a perfect start to the season. year-long ligament injury. games in the Greek league this season. Chelsea and lived through some highs and French league’s best player last season, “We cannot allow that to happen,” said for- The Spanish holding midfielder was an “We need to focus on our work. We believe lows in Russia. scoring 27 league goals as Lyon finished ward Robert Lewandowski. “It will not be an unused substitute against Augsburg. “We we can get something out of it because if you Espirito Santo was a reserve goalkeeper second in the league to qualify automati- easy game in Greece and the atmosphere should learn our lessons from the Augsburg don’t believe then you have already lost even for that great Porto side in 2004. He will be cally for the Champions League. But he there is fiery. We have to play very well from match because that should not happen,” said before the game,” said Elabdellaoui.