The former Giallorossi defender says Rudi Garcia’s men will overcome the English titleholders at the Stadio Olimpico if they reproduce their performance in Sunday’s win over Inter
Mehdi Benatia expects Roma to join Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, claiming that his former club are a better side than qualification rivals Manchester City.
The Serie A side currently sit second in Group E but are level on points with both third-placed CSKA Moscow – against whom the Italians have a better head-to-head record – and basement boys City.
Consequently, Roma need a win over Manuel Pellegrini’s men when the two sides meet at the Stadio Olimpico on December 10 to seal their place in the knockout stage.
City appear to have rediscovered their best form over the past week, having followed up their crucial 3-2 win over Bayern with an impressive Premier League away win at Southampton.
However, Benatia, who joined Bayern from Roma during the summer transfer window, was hugely impressed with his old side’s 4-2 Serie A win over Inter on Sunday and is confident that Rudi Garcia’s men will progress to the last 16.
“Roma are stronger than Manchester City, in my opinion,” the centre-half told Processo del Lunedi.
“If they play like they did against Inter, they will go through to the next round.
“They play great football and they have so much quality.”
Indeed, Benatia, who played a key role in Roma’s resurgence last season, believes that the Giallorossi are the best footballing side in Serie A at the moment and are even better equipped this term to end Juve’s domestic dominance.
“Juve and Roma are the two strongest squads in Italy and they will fight for the Scudetto right until the end.
“One because they play the best football in Italy, and the other because they’re … Juventus!” the Morocco international joked.
The Bianconeri currently lead Serie A by three points from Roma, who host Sassuolo on Saturday.