Roma’s plans for their vital Champions League match at home to Valencia were thrown into disarraywith the news that captain Francesco Totti will miss the match with a back injury.
“Totti has a back injury.We hoped he could recover in time but he is in too much pain,” said Roma coach Fabio Capello at press conference.
The loss is a particular blow to Capello, whose position is under threat after a poor domestic season and a disappointing start to the second phase of the Champions League.
Defeat against the Spanish would virtually end Roma’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals and could even spell the end of Capello’s reign in the capital.
Further problems for Capello include the suspension of Brazilian duo Emerson and Walter Samuel, while French full-backVincent Candela is an injury doubt.
Roma lost their first two Group B matches and they trail joint group leaders Arsenal and Ajax by three points.
