Lack of Totti shouldn't spoil the show

Well, let's not get carried away. There are some important things to remember here. First, Roma are a better side than they were a year ago. Luciano Spalletti's team are currently second in Serie A and have a genuine chance of winning the league.

Yes, but United hammered them last time. Why shouldn't history repeat itself?

I'm sorry, but they didn't hammer them last time. In case you'd forgotten United and Roma have already faced each other twice in the group stages this season. A Wayne Rooney goal gave United a 1-0 win at Old Trafford and the game in Italy ended 1-1. Apart from the 7-1 game at Old Trafford last season, games between these two have been close. In the first leg of last season's quarter-final Roma won 2-1 and were good value, too.

No Francesco Totti tonight, though. How will that affect the Italian side?

On the face of it his absence appears to be good news for United. Totti is Roma's captain and talisman. However, the stats are revealing. Totti has missed 12 Roma games this season and his team have lost just one of them.

Who will replace him up front, then?

Montenegro forward Mirko Vucinic will begin at the top of Roma's formation, although they don't really employ a system that includes an out-and-out striker. Instead, coach Spalletti asks his front players to rotate and share the workload. United will be used to that, though, as Fergie employs a similar system at United.

But is Vucinic any good?

He's good, all right. He scored one of Roma's goals in the equivalent fixture last season, so United know all about him. He has also scored four times for his country in just six appearances. Not a bad strike rate.