Roma travel to Bavaria on Wednesday night, as they face German heavyweights Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, for their fourth group stage Champions League match.

Two weeks ago the Italians were mauled 7-1, as Josep Guardiola’s team dismantled the Giallorossi in front of their own fans. It was their biggest away victory in European competition as well as Roma’s worst performance at home.

Fortunately for the Romans, group rivals Manchester City and CSKA Moscow played out a 2-2 draw in Russia, which kept Garcia’s side second in table and in the final qualification spot.

However, that’s where the luck ended for Roma as they head into this match on the back of a disastrous 2-0 Serie A defeat against Napoli and an increasing injury list that sees them without a fully fit recognised right back.

Brazilian Maicon, who missed the tie at the San Paolo, is almost certainly ruled out whilst Greek full back Vasilis Torosidis has complained of a muscular problem and has yet to train since the weekend Serie A fixture.

Alongside long term absentee Leandro Castan, the recuperating Davide Astori and Federico Balzaretti and the indifferent form of Ashley Cole and Jose Holebas, coach Garcia is in defensive dire straits.

Should both Maicon and Torosidis fail to be passed fit, Alessandro Florenzi will be asked to fill in on the right side of the back four, hardly a situation the Italians would want to be in when facing the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Arjen Robben and Mario Goetze.

In light of this situation, reports are suggesting that the French tactician may ditch his favoured 4-3-3 formation and play just two pacy forwards and a diamond midfield, with Miralem Pjanic at the tip of the ‘rombo’. Garcia is hoping to make the centre of the park much more compact and rely on lightning fast breaks by placing his quickest forwards, Gervinho and Juan Iturbe, in attack.

The Germans have very little injury concerns and come off an impressive 2-1 weekend victory over Borussia Dortmund.  They overturned a 1-0 half time deficit after substitute Franck Ribery inspired a late second half comeback, with goals from Lewandowski and Robben.

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp was quick to point out after that game that the depth of the Bayern squad is one of Guardiola’s main weapons, being able to bring on the tricky French winger to change the fortunes of a game.

Roma have no such luxury come Wednesday evening and may even be forced to play one of their young forwards in defence.

If the Germans manage a win they will have already booked their spot in the knockout stages of the competition.  It really is a case of ‘Achtung Rudi’, as the Germans giants await.

Expected Starting XIs

Bayern Munich (3-4-3): Neuer; Benatia, Boateng, Alaba; Robben, Lahm, Alonso, Bernat; Muller, Lewandoski, Ribery

Roma (4-3-1-2): De Sanctis; Torosidis, Manolas, Yanga-Mbiwa, Cole; De Rossi, Keita, Nainggolan; Pjanic; Gervinho, Iturbe.