Ashley Cole: Pressure on Man City for Champions League game

Roma defender Ashley Cole says Manchester City will be under pressure when the two sides meet in the Champions League on Tuesday.

City lost their first match of the group stages to Bayern Munich earlier this month.

"There's a lot of pressure on City," Cole said. "They have big players and are hungry to win the Champions League.

"We are probably the underdogs but we will give it everything and will give them a tough game."

Roma are bidding to build on an impressive 5-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in their opening game, and Cole says a win would give them a fighting chance of beating City to qualification.

"If we win it will make it more difficult for them to catch up and will probably make us top of the group and put us in good stead for qualifying," said the 33-year-old.

The former Chelsea defender said he was surprised to come up against ex-clubmate Frank Lampard so soon after they both left Stamford Bridge over the summer.

"It will be great to play against people like Joe Hart and Lamps," he said. "I never expected to play against him.

"If I am selected and Lamps is selected it would be nice.

"Everyone knows what Lampard brings to any team - he's a great experienced player who scores goals."