Roma 1 - 1 Olympiakos
Julio Cesar 19 (O), Totti 66 ®
Stadio Olimpico
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Francesco Totti was hero and villain, seeing his penalty saved and scoring the equaliser in Roma's 1-1 draw with Olympiakos.
Simone Perrotta scored the winner in Greece a fortnight ago, but an injury kept him out of the starting line-up along with Amantino Mancini. The Giallorossi knew that a win - and a Valencia result against Shakhtar Donetsk - would be enough to see them through to the knockouts.
Roma nearly went behind on an own goal after five minutes. Ex-Milan flop Rivaldo won back the ball and his shot was parried on to Cristian Chivu, the ricochet fortunately going wide of the target.
Max Tonetto's effort was charged down by Julio Cesar, but Olympiakos were lively and took the lead after 19 minutes. Former Milan defender Julio Cesar was allowed to jump between four Roma shirts and nod in a corner kick from six yards.
There was controversy soon after, as Tonetto's half-volley was charged down by Zevlakov's arm. It seemed to be outstretched and very distant from his torso, but the referee only awarded a corner kick.
Francesco Totti's rocket of a free kick stung the palms of Antonios Nikopolidis and he just about managed to beat the powerful strike away from the danger zone.
On the half-hour mark the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty, as Julio Cesar turned from hero to villain with a clumsy challenge on Rodrigo Taddei. The move was started by Alberto Aquilani taking advantage of a poor goalkeeping clearance.
Totti has missed two penalties in Serie A already this season and was also denied here in the Champions League, as Nikopolidis pushed away his spot-kick. It was fairly central and a good height for the veteran Greek 'keeper.
David Pizarro spread a free kick to the edge of the area, where Aquilani's strike was off target.
Perrotta replaced defender Matteo Ferrari for the second half, moving back to a 4-1-4-1 system. The substitute hit the back of the net on the hour mark, but the whistle had already gone for a tight offside position.
The Giallorossi were still ineffective upfront, so Luciano Spalletti also introduced hitman Mirko Vucinic, who is trying to find full fitness after a five-month injury lay-off.
Within 30 seconds of stepping on to the field, Vucinic had brought a fine one-handed save out of Nikopolidis with his angled drive from a Totti assist in the captain's slightly deeper role.
Roma equalised moments later with Totti making up for that penalty mistake. The home hero hooked down Taddei's flicked cross over the defence with his right foot and smashed an angled drive through the defender's legs into the far corner.
The Giallorossi had a good opportunity to take the lead when Totti, with his back to goal, found Pizarro with a slide-rule pass that the Chilean thumped into Nikopolidis' grateful arms.
Pizarro and Totti couldn't quite finish off their moves, while Alexander Doni got down to block a Kostantinou angled drive.
Ex-Udinese midfielder Pizarro ran forward and threaded through for Vucinic, but the alert Nikopolidis rushed out to narrow the angle and close him down. Totti and Nikopolodis were both booked in stoppages for a brief scuffle and the points were shared at the Stadio Olimpico.
<Post-Match Comments>
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Roma: Doni; Panucci, Ferrari (Perrotta 46), Mexes, Chivu; De Rossi, Pizarro; Taddei, Aquilani (Vucinic 63), Tonetto; Totti
Olympiakos: Nikopolidis; Zevlakov, Julio Cesar, Kostoulas, Domi; Maric (Kafes 90), Stoltidis; Rivaldo, Patsatzoglou (Anatolakis 65), Djordjevic (Borja 85); Konstantinou
Ref: Benquerença (Por)
Missed penalty: Totti 33 ®
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