Madrid old boys on defensive

By Rafa García

Josep Guardiola, the former FC Barcelona player, is among the familiar faces returning to the Santiago Bernabéu with AS Roma for Wednesday's Group C match against reigning champions Real Madrid CF.

Old faces
Besides Guardiola, a likely substitute, there will be Roma coach Fabio Capello, who was in charge of Madrid in 1996/97, and Christian Panucci, a member of the Merengues' UEFA Champions League-winning side of 1998. For Guardiola, 31, this is his first official match back in Spain since he left Barcelona for Brescia Calcio in summer 2001.

Coming to the boil
Things have not gone to plan since - Guardiola lost his place in the Spanish national team and served a long suspension last season after testing positive for the banned substance nandrolone, prior to his summer move to Rome. Given his place on the periphery, however, Guardiola's return will remain just a subtext of the central plot, which comes to the boil this week - namely the pursuit of the qualifying places from Group C.

Crunch match
Leaders Madrid will secure progress with a victory, while second-placed Roma can do likewise should AEK Athens FC lose against KRC Genk in the group's other match. Capello was stating the obvious when he said: "The three points are very important for both teams."

'Madrid are favourites'
Roma come into the match on the back of a 2-2 derby draw with S.S. Lazio. Capello considers Madrid "favourites", not surprising if you consider Roma have scored only one goal in four European matches so far and Madrid 14. At the same time, however, Roma have the most miserly defence in the competition, having conceded just three goals, and this may be a good moment to face a Madrid side who have followed up a 2-0 defeat against Real Racing Club Santander with draws against AEK and Villarreal CF.

Under pressure
Coach Vicente del Bosque admitted: "We have to produce a good performance and put the negative results behind us." Ronaldo is under intense scrutiny, having failed to score since his debut double against Deportivo Alavés. Del Bosque said: "We have to be patient with him, he is feeling better each day."

Raúl returns
The coach welcomes back from injury Raúl González and Luis Figo, both of whom missed the home draw with AEK, and Raúl's return comes 24 hours after the eighth anniversary of his debut at Real Zaragoza. Almost a decade on and the only other survivor from the Madrid side that night is captain Fernando Hierro.

Capello's dilemma
As for Roma, they are missing midfield players Diego Fuser and Ivan Tomic but the real dilemma for coach Capello lies in his attacking options. Capello must decide between partnering Gabriel Batistuta with Marco Delvecchio, which would mean a withdrawn role for Francesco Totti, or going with a Batitusta-Totti axis up front and a five-man midfield.

Last time
The sides drew 1-1 on Roma's only previous visit to the Bernabéu this time last year but even if Roma lost and AEK defeated Genk in the evening's other match, Capello's men could still qualify by beating the Belgians on Matchday Six.