LOCAL TIME ROME ITALY:

(minus 6 hours for NYC time)

CFR CLUJ WHO? are the headlines in Rome after Romanian club CFR Cluj made front-page news this morning beating A.S. Roma 2 – 1 at the Stadio Olimpico, in the opening day action of Champions League.

CFR Cluj play in the Romanian Liga 1, and currently sit seventh in their domestic league. These Champions League minnows are making their debut in Europe’s premier club competition and could not have made a bigger splash than beating one of the favorites to reach the next phase with their come from behind win over Roma. Luciano Spalletti’s squad was absolutely stunned by their opponent’s performance after Christian Panucci opened scoring for the Roman gladiators in the 17th minute. Cluj, coached by Italian Maurizio Trombetta
, refused to accept defeat and his squad leveled the score quickly through a Juan (Emmanuel) Culio goal 10 minutes later. The Argentinian would also provide the second half winner for CFR Cluj on a one-time volley past Roma keeper Doni to secure all three points for the visitors.
Problems are surfacing at the Capitale as Roma have not won in their last three matches
having drawn against Napoli, then losing away to Palermo and now this. Italian papers are reporting Roma chief Rosella Sensi as seeing red.  Something has to give or heads will roll and that’s the way I see it.

Lineups

Roma: Doni; Cicinho, Cassetti, Panucci (Loria 47), Riise (Totti 52); De Rossi, Aquilani; Taddei (Montella 77), Baptista, Tonetto; Vucinic

Cluj: Stancioiu; Tony, Cadu’, Viera, Pereira; Muresan, Dani, Trica (Peralta 65); Culio, Konè, Dubarbier (Panin 88)

Goalscorers: Panucci 16 (R), Juan Culio 27, 49 (C)

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Video Goal Highlights

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The other match in Group A saw last season’s runners-up Chelsea demoralize visitors Bordeaux with a 4 – 0 trouncing.