Now both Champions League regulars, it is perhaps some surprise Chelsea and Roma have not passed competitive paths since 1965. Here we introduce our Italian opponents.
Runners up to Inter in last season's Serie A, Luciano Spalletti's side finished just three points behind the champions, and ten ahead of nearest challengers Juventus, as well as reaching the European quarter-finals before elimination courtesy of Manchester United.
Roma had also played United in the group stages, finishing second and knocking out Real Madrid in the first knockout round.
This season, results will have disappointed the Giallorossi fans, with Roma sat in 14th place in the league. Added to that is the surprise Champions League result at home, a 2-1 defeat to CFR Cluj, though a 3-1 win in Bordeaux has helped to amend that defeat.
At the weekend, they were soundly beaten 4-0 by Inter, who are now coached by former Chelsea manager José Mourinho.
Champions just three times in their 81-year history, they were most recently crowned in 2001 under the leadership of one Fabio Capello, who utilised star man Francesco Totti with a frontline of Gabriel Batistuta and Vincenzo Montella to bring the Scudetto back to the Stadio Olimpico, their 72,000 home.
2. Christian Panucci
Defender
35-year-old full-back who had a brief spell with Chelsea in 2000/01, making eight appearances. Panucci has been with Roma since 2001, and was previously a Champions League winner with Milan in 1994. Later spells with Real Madrid, Inter and Monaco followed, before being resigned by Capello for Roma. He scored in the 2-1 defeat against Cluj, and has more than 50 Italy caps.
3. Cicinho
Defender
Signed in 2007 from Real Madrid, making 30 appearances in his first season in Italy. Now 28, the pacy wing man played 25 times for Madrid, following 69 for Sao Paolo in his native Brazil. He represented his country at the 2006 World Cup.
4. Juan Silveira Dos Santos
Defender
Another 2007 signing, the Brazilian arrived from Germans Bayer Leverkusen after making 139 Bundesliga appearances in five years. A Brazilian international, Juan was involved in both the 2004 and 2007 Copa America successes. Last season he played 22 league games, and eight in the Champions League.
5. Philippe Mexes
Defender
Mexes arrived in Italy in 2004 from Auxerre, taking with him a huge reputation and bags of potential. A product of the French club's academy, he made his debut as a 17-year-old, eventually playing 133 league games. He opened the scoring in May's Coppa Italia final with an exquisite goal against Inter. A France international, Mexes has struggled to hold down a regular place at the top level.
7. David Pizarro
Midfielder
A 2006 signing from Inter, Pizarro has become an important member of the Roma squad, renowned for his passing ability and diminutive size. At the San Siro he made 24 Serie A appearances in a single season, joining from Udinese where he spent five seasons, split with a loan spell in his homeland with Universidad de Chile. The 29-year-old is an experienced international.
8. Alberto Aquilani
Midfielder
Highly rated youth product who has graduated into the full Italy squad, 24-year-old Aquilani is a strong passer of the ball with a fierce shot. Named in the Euro 2008 squad, he played in the quarter-final penalties defeat to Spain. He supported Roma as a boy.
9. Mirko Vucinic
Forward
Montenegran forward who has just turned 25, Vucinic arrived in 2006 after six years with Lecce. Last season he scored the winning goal in Madrid, one of four Champions League strikes, added to his nine in Serie A. Missed the 2006 World Cup for Serbia and Montenegro through injury.
10. Francesco Totti
Forward
Now 32, Totti is synonymous with Roma, and is now in his 17th season with the club. A mercurial talent, he was a key member of the 2001 Serie A winning side, as well as the Italy team that won the World Cup in 2006. Vastly experienced, Totti is Roma's top goalscorer and highest capped player of all time. Suffered cruciate ligament damage earlier this year, and is currently easing his way back to full match fitness.
11. Rodrigo Taddei
Midfielder
A Brazilian midfielder, Taddei arrived in Italy with Siena in 2002, spending three years there before joining Roma in 2005 on a free. A smart dribbler, the 28-year-old can play either on the right or in the middle of midfield, and averages a goal every five games.
12. Pietro Pipolo
Goalkeeper
22-year-old youth product still awaiting his Serie A debut, having spent last season on loan with Serie C1 B side Potenza.
14. Filipe Gomes Ribeiro
Midfielder
21-year-old Brazilian, native to Rio de Janeiro. Signed for Roma as a youth but still awaits a league debut.
15. Simone Loria
Defender
A late developer in the pro game, Loria only made his Serie B debut at the age of 26 after six years in Serie C. He first arrived in Serie A with Cagliari in September 2004, and joined Roma this summer from Siena in the summer. Now 32, he began as a trainee with Juventus.
16. Daniele De Rossi
Midfielder
Tenacious midfielder now capped more than 30 times by Italy, De Rossi was sent off at the 2006 World Cup for an elbow on USA's Brian McBride, serving his suspension and returning as a sub in the Final, replacing clubmate Totti. Also a Euro Under 21 champion in 2004, he is approaching 200 league games for the club.
17. John Arne Riise
Defender
Will need no introduction to Chelsea fans as the man who helped us on the way to last season's Champions League Final, scoring a crucial own goal as a Liverpool player at Anfield. Joined Roma this summer after seven years in England, which brought 234 league and 58 Champions League games. A pacy wide man with a ferocious shot, especially at dead balls.
19. Julio Baptista
Forward
Nicknamed 'The Beast', Baptista will be remembered from his season-long loan with Arsenal in 2006/07, in the middle of his time with Real Madrid. A powerful attacking midfielder or forward, Baptista was a regular goalscorer for Sevilla before joining the Bernabeu side. Originally with Sao Paolo in his homeland Brazil, for whom he scored important goals at the Copa America in 2007.
20. Simone Perrotta
Midfielder
Born in Ashton, England, Perrotta moved to Italy as a child, signing for Reggina in Serie B, where he spent three seasons, moving on to Juventus in 1998, ending up at Roma in 2004 via spells with Bari and Chievo. He has been a regular at the Stadio Olimpico since, and has amassed over 40 Italy caps, winning the World Cup in 2006.
22. Max Tonetto
Midfielder
Nearly 34, Tonetto is with his ninth club, arriving in Rome in 2006. He has now made over 60 Serie A appearances, for the club, and is approaching 20 Champions League games.
23. Vincenzo Montella
Forward
Experienced forward who spent 2006/07 on loan at our neighbours Fulham, scoring some vital goals to keep them up, before joining Sampdoria for 2007/08. Now 34, Montella formed an impressive partnership with Gabriel Batistuta to land the Serie A title in 2001, having joined from Samp in 1999. He won 19 international caps, the last coming in 2005.
24. Jeremy Menez
Midfielder
Tricky and skilful wideman, Menez has long been touted as a tremendous prospect for France, having started out at Sochaux before moving on to Monaco in 2006. 14 goals in 54 league games prompted this summer's move to Italy.
25. Artur
Goalkeeper
Brazilian goalkeeper who arrived in Italy last season, playing for both Siena and Cesena. 27-years-old, awaiting a Roma debut.
27. Julio Sergio
Goalkeeper
Now approaching his 30th birthday, still awaiting his Roma debut after two years with Santos between 2003 and 2005, where he made 41 appearances.
32. Doni
Goalkeeper
A third Brazilian goalkeeper in the Roma ranks, Doni has been first choice since joining in 2005, making his debut against city rivals Lazio. Like our own Petr Cech, he has conceded less goals than games he has played in. Five previous clubs in Brazil.
33. Matteo Brighi
Midfielder
Much-travelled 27-year-old midfielder, who has also represented Juventus and Parma among others. Signed for Roma in 2007 and played 24 league games last season.
77. Marco Cassetti
Defender
31-year-old who signed from Lecce in 2006, he has now played more than 50 league games. Prior to this season had amassed 15 Champions League appearances.
89. Stefano Okaka
Forward
Italian national of Nigerian descent, he made his Serie A debut in 2005 as a 16-year-old, scoring a first Serie A goal nine months later. Spent last season on loan to Modena, scoring seven times in 33 appearances.
Coach
Luciano Spalletti
The 49-year-old Italian is in his fourth season as Roma coach, and is searching for his fourth piece of silverware, having already won the Italian Cup in 2007 and 2008, and the Super Cup in 2007. Roma is his seventh managerial post, with previous spells at Empoli, where he finished his playing career, Sampdoria, Venezia, Udinese twice and Ancona.
By logging onto the Chelsea WAPsite from your mobile, you can purchase the highlights of any Chelsea goal from tonight's game. Videos will usually appear within five minutes of the goal, and cost a mere £1 to download.
So make sure you keep up-to-date with Chelsea's Champions League campaign, as we host Roma, and watch all the goals only minutes after the fans at Stamford Bridge.And don't forget, you can get every goal text update straight to your mobile via the Chelsea SMS Alerts service, as well as half and full-time round-ups and post-match reaction from the manager.
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