AS Roma vs BATE Borisov: Rudi Garcia expects derby atmosphere for crunch BATE clash

Manager Rudi Garcia has called on Roma to employ a derby-like mentality against BATE Borisov with a place in the Champions League knockout stages at stake.

A win at the Stadio Olimpico will confirm Roma's place in the next round, despite the fact the Italian side have conceded more goals than any other team in the group stage this season.

BATE won the reverse fixture 3-2 in September and, with their own chance to reach the knockout stages for the first time still alive, Garcia is expecting a competitive atmosphere.

"The BATE match is like a derby - it's a match we have to win," Garcia told reporters at his pre-match press conference.

"We need to have the right attitude and that means fighting from the first minute and showing that we are desperate to get through to the next round.

"It's been one of our goals since the start of the season."

Expectations in the Italian capital have been dampened by a poor run of form since the international break.

Roma have failed to win their four games since, which includes a 6-1 thumping away to Barcelona in their previous Champions League group game.

With injuries also stretching their resources, Garcia added: "We were doing excellently before the international break - we were scoring lots of goals, we'd won the derby (against Napoli) and everything was going well.

"But now after four matches, from the outside it seems like we've all become rubbish. My job is to maintain the balance so we're not sky-high one day and down in the doldrums the next.

"There may be some changes - we have a number of injuries so that means my options are limited, but there are options there nonetheless.

"[The] match will be won through desire and we have a lot of that. As I've said, we need all 18 players in the squad to give everything for the win."

BATE's hopes of progressing are not as straightforward as Roma's as a victory will only send them through if Bayer Leverkusen fail to win at home to Barca, who have already confirmed first place.

With history beckoning for the Belorussians, striker Vitaly Rodionov expects his team-mates will embrace the opportunity.

"I think the dominant thought in our minds is that we are fortunate to be able to play in tomorrow's match - it is probably one of the most important in the career of almost every one of us," Rodionov told the club's website.

"It is important that everyone believes that it is possible to win.

"This belief can play the role of a locomotive, which can push us into new frontiers."