CFR Cluj-Napoca 1 - 3 AS Roma

CFR Cluj-Napoca v Roma: Preview

Updated: November 25, 2008, 2:51 PM UK

Shockwaves reverberated around Europe back in September when Champions League debutants Cluj announced their arrival in style, pulling off one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history to defeat the Serie A giants in the Italian capital.

The result highlighted a dismal start to the season for Roma following a defeat and a draw in their opening Serie A fixtures.

Life did not get much better at the capital club and coach Luciano Spalletti's job was hanging by a thread a few weeks ago.

Roma have started to turn things around of late though and recorded their first away league win at the weekend with an emphatic 3-0 triumph at Lecce, but Vucinic remains wary of a side who caused them so many problems at the beginning of the season.

"Cluj are a strong team,'' he told Sky Italia. "They won in Rome but we will travel to Romania focused to win.

"I'm expecting a very heated atmosphere because they are not in the Champions League every year. The people will all be at the stadium to support Cluj.

"In football it's possible to lose and win against anyone. Unfortunately we lost at home and it taught us a lesson.

"I'm not expecting us to drop more points tonight.''

Qualification for the knockout stages is now a distinct possibility for Roma following the 3-1 victory over Chelsea in their last Champions League tie.

The Giallorossi are level with Bordeaux and trail the Premier League club by a point and they are even starting to tentatively dream about a Champions League final in their own Stadio Olimpico.

"The final will be played here and we hope that one of the Italian clubs will reach it,'' added Vucinic. "Time will tell if we're right.''

Roma will be without defender Christian Panucci, who is sidelined with a knee injury, but welcome back Cicinho and Max Tonetto.

Cluj have faltered somewhat after their fantastic start to life among Europe's elite.

The Romanians followed up victory in the Italian capital with a goalless draw against last year's finalists Chelsea but then suffered back-to-back defeats against Bordeaux to leave them bottom of the group.

The Romanian champions have also struggled domestically with Friday's defeat against Pandurii leaving them in sixth spot, eight points behind leaders AFC Unirea Urziceni.

And their Italian coach Maurizio Trombetta admits they have found it difficult juggling the demands of both competitions.

"The result was fair, considering how the game went,'' he said. "Pandurii deserved their victory.

"I am not at all satisfied with myself or my team. We missed an opportunity to move closer to the league leaders.

"It's difficult to play both in the championship and in the Champions League.''

Cluj will be without striker Didi and right-back Tony who will be sidelined for six months and the rest of the year respectively following knee operations.