Finally City see sight of the Roma goal - but it is a squint from distance rather than a close-up look. Gael Clichy's shot from the left finds the head of Edin Dzeko, who can't direct a difficult chance at the target.

Kevin Kilbane
BBC Radio 5 live

"It is Gervinho again exploiting Zabaleta. He is giving him a bit of a roasting. Worrying signs down City's right hand side."

Gervinho wriggles clear down the left flank, in behind Pablo Zabaleta who is struggling to cope with the Ivorian at the moment.

The Roma forward picks out Francesco Totti, but the ball breaks loose and allows City's backtracking defence to boot clear.

City have survived after that early threat, but are still not keeping hold of the ball as much as Manuel Pellegrini would like.

Roma attack again - and again Gervinho is the focal point. He has Pablo Zabaleta on toast again, dragging the Argentine full-back inside, showing him a clean pair of heels, but then firing over from distance.

No pressure on Group G winners Chelsea - and it shows. Left-back Filipe Luis is upended in the Sporting box and Cesc Fabregas steps up to bang in the spot-kick.

Follow the match here.

Kevin Kilbane
BBC Radio 5 live

"Zabaleta has to see the run, he has run from 30 yards. He didn't do that. City look so uncomfortable defensively and Roma have got in behind Zabaleta twice now."

You can listen to live commentary of Manchester City's match at Roma on BBC Radio 5 live here or by clicking on the Live Coverage tab at the top of this page.

This could be a long night for the City defence - they are all over the place. Luckily Joe Hart comes to the rescue.

Roma twice find space down the left flank, Jose Holebas looking certain to score from close range until Hart spreads himself Schmeichelesque to block. Then, they scramble clear another Roma attack seconds later.

And the City side...

A quick reminder of the Roma team...

Image source, Science Photo Library

John Guy:, external Aguero will be big miss for Man City. He offers bigger threats than others strikers in City squad. Roma to win 2-0 tonight.

Jerry Elumeze:, external Like Liverpool last night I can't see how City will progress tonight without Aguero, Toure and Kompany

Early warning for City. Gervinho plays a neat one-two with Miralem Pjanic but his cross from the left is cleared by an away head.

Gervinho looks like a different man to the one who frustrated Arsenal fans. Although he still has that haircut which frustrated football fans across the country.

Stoppage within the opening 60 seconds as Joe Hart picks up an object which is lobbed in his direction. Told it was a lively atmosphere....

Under way in the Eternal City. City supporters have eternal hope - is tonight going to be another night they are rewarded?

"Come on!" is the rallying cry from Joe Hart as the England goalkeeper leads City out of the tunnel.

And that's probably the last time many of the City players will hear their skipper. The noise is deafening inside the Stadio Olimpico.

The Champions League anthem booms out of the PA system. A few fireworks blast into the chilly Rome night. Almost show-time. Ready?

Image source, AFP

Kevin Kilbane
BBC Radio 5 live

"You relish these sort of atmospheres. This is what you want to be playing in. It is a huge occasion. We know both sides have a lot of quality in their sides."

You can listen to live commentary of Manchester City's match at Roma on BBC Radio 5 live here or by clicking on the Live Coverage tab at the top of this page.

Roma skipper Francesco Totti is a picture of calm in the Stadio Olimpico tunnel. As does City's captain-for-the-night Joe Hart, who chomps hard on his chewing gum.

About 1,500 City fans have made the trip to the Italian capital - and they are creating a real racket.

City know they will reach the Champions League last 16 if their result is better than CSKA Moscow's result at Bayern Munich. Apart for one exception.

So a City win, coupled with a CSKA draw, would see City go through.

A City draw, coupled with a CSKA defeat, would see City go through.

But here's the twist. If CKSA lose and City draw 0-0, then Roma would progress.

Over the next couple of hours we will be, unashamedly, constantly chirping up with the Group E permutations. So here's your final pre-match reminder of what can happen tonight...

Former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is not involved for Roma but Francesco Totti does return after missing the weekend win over Sassuolo. There are five changes from that side with former Arsenal striker Gervinho one of their key players brought back in.

Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany is not in the squad after failing a late fitness test on a hamstring injury. Midfielder David Silva makes the substitutes bench, having been out since 29 October with a knee injury, while Edin Dzeko starts in attack in place of the injured Sergio Aguero.

Roma: De Sanctis, Yanga-Mbiwa, Maicon, Holebas, Manolas, Nainggolan, Pjanic, Keita, Ljajic, Totti, Gervinho. Subs: Curci, Strootman, Iturbe, De Rossi, Destro, Astori, Florenzi.

City: Hart, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Fernandinho, Fernando, Navas, Nasri, Milner, Dzeko. Subs: Cabellero, Sagna, Kolarov, Boyata, Lampard, Silva, Jovetic.

Image source, Getty Images

Edin Dzeko always strikes me as a confident chap. Not least because I saw him wearing an awful pair of tinted aviator sunglasses in Manchester last year (when it wasn't even sunny) and he clearly thought his style was comparable to James Dean. It wasn't.

Anyway...despite his recent injury troubles, the Bosnian is backing himself to fire City into the last 16 tonight.

Dzeko has proved to be the man for the big occasion in the past, not least by scoring the equalising goal in the dramatic comeback win against QPR which handed the 2011-12 Premier League title to the Blues.

"I'm there when the team needs me and I'm happy to be back," says the 28-year-old, who has played just 27 minutes in the last month because of a calf injury.

"It was a bit hard for me but now I'm back and I'll do my best to try and score the goals and bring something good to the team."