Napoli vs AS Roma preview - Roma taking it one game at a time

Posted Friday, October 31, 2014 by PA

Roma coach Rudi Garcia has warned Saturday's opponents Napoli that his side will not be distracted by next week's Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich.

The Giallorossi face Bayern in Munich next Wednesday in a clash between the top two sides in Group E - albeit with the German giants boasting a five-point advantage over the Italians.

Despite the obvious attraction of that game, though, Garcia insists his team's only focus at present is on the domestic front.

"Our only thoughts right now are on the game at Napoli," he said. "Once that match is over, we will think about the game at Bayern Munich.

"We need to bring home a good result."

Garcia expects his players to carry on from where they left off in Wednesday's 2-0 triumph over Cesena.

The victory was Roma's seventh in nine league games and moved them level on 22 points with Serie A leaders Juventus, who lost 1-0 at Genoa.

"It was important for us to win against Cesena," Garcia said. "We did well to keep a clean sheet in our last two games and now we must build on that result.

"We expect a very difficult game because Napoli are a very good side and (Napoli coach Rafa) Benitez is an experienced coach."

Under Garcia, Roma have lost their previous two games at the San Paolo stadium but they go into this weekend's fixture holding a seven-point lead over Napoli in the table.

The azzurri missed out on a chance to climb to third on Wednesday after Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain had a penalty saved deep in stoppage time against Atalanta.

The azzurri had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Bergamo, a result that followed their 6-2 triumph over Hellas Verona, and left them in seventh place.

Benitez said: "We controlled the game from start to finish and did all that we could to win. Now we take on Roma and we will need to show more determination if we are to beat them."

The hosts are without midfielder Walter Gargano and striker Michu, both out injured.

Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis and captain Francesco Totti will return to the starting XI, with both having been rested in midweek.