AS Roma 2 - 1 Fulham

Ranieri ready for tough test

Updated: November 4, 2009, 6:45 PM UK

The Giallorossi, still without star forward Francesco Totti through a knee injury, go into the game third in Group E, one point behind the second-placed Cottagers and two behind leaders Basle with three games remaining.

Fulham arrive in the Italian capital on the back of a 3-1 win over Liverpool in the Premier League and Ranieri knows his team will be put to the test.

He said: "Fulham did well against Manchester City and they won convincingly against Liverpool. We expect a difficult game.

"We knew that would be the case in our first game against them where we managed to come home with a point (from a 1-1 draw).''

Ranieri believes the biggest threat Fulham pose will be on the counter-attack.

"It's going to be complicated because Fulham will try to hit us on fast counter-attacks,'' said Ranieri.

However, he hopes his team will cope and improve in the hope of progressing to the next round.

"We have two important games at home and we want to keep going in Europe,'' said Ranieri.

"Of course we are missing the Champions League but that by no means suggests that we don't consider this competition important.

"We want to go as far as possible in this tournament.''

Roma will be without injured pair Juan and Nicolas Burdisso but Mirko Vucinic has recovered from a muscular injury and is set to lead the attack alongside Julio Baptista.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson enjoyed a lot of success against Roma when he coached in Italy and he is hoping for more of the same on Thursday.

While coaching Inter Milan, he took on Roma five times, winning three matches and losing just once.

"I have always enjoyed coming here,'' Hodgson said. "My memories are more positive than negative.''

However, he knows the importance of the match for both his team and Roma.

"I expect Basle to win,'' Hodgson said. "That means that whoever loses at the Stadio Olimpico will have a difficult task to progress.

"I think in order for us to go through to the next round, we will need to finish with nine or 10 points.

"We will be wise and be prepared for a difficult game. We want to see how far we can go against them.''