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ROME - English champion Manchester City faces several challenges Wednesday when it strives to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League.Seeking to avoid a group stage exit for the second time in three seasons, Citys injury- and suspension-hit team needs at least a point against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico and some assistance from already-qualified Bayern Munich in the other Group E match.Manager Manuel Pellegrinis squad could be without arguably its best four players.Star midfielder Yaya Toure is suspended, top scorer Sergio Aguero is out with a serious knee injury, sustained on Saturday, and playmaker David Silva and captain Vincent Kompany are major injury doubts.Bayern has already won the group with 12 points while the other three clubs have five points each.Roma can advance with a win, while CSKA needs a first-ever victory in Germany, plus a draw, or a City win, in the other match.If City loses, it will finish last and fail to qualify for the Europa League.Here are some more things to know about Wednesdays matches:___VETERAN EXPERTISERoma is still feeling the psychological impact of its 7-1 home thrashing by Bayern, but has maintained second place in Serie A, relying on veterans like 38-year-old captain Francesco Totti and 33-year-old right back Maicon.Maicon had an unimpressive stay at City in 2012-13, when he was slowed by injury, but has returned to form with the Giallorossi this season and last — and was one of the bright spots for Brazil at the World Cup.I would love to have his charisma and acceleration, said Roma winger Alessandro Florenzi, who filled in at fullback when Maicon was rested during a draw against Sassuolo at the weekend. Hes a player who creates fear for the opponent even if hes at 50 per cent. And he settles the club down.Maicon has been the one of the few bright spots in a Roma defence that was torn apart in the thrashing by Bayern in October.Roma forwards Gervinho and Miralem Pjanic are expected to play despite minor injuries.___ABSENT AGUEROManager Manuel Pellegrini has admitted Sergio Agueros absence in Italy is a monumental blow.The Argentina international scored a hat trick to propel City to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory against Bayern Munich two weeks ago.Sergio was in a very good moment and he is a decisive player for our team, Pellegrini said after Saturdays 1-0 win against Everton.It is impossible in this moment to know how long Sergio will be out. It is very difficult when you have a problem with your ligament to recover in three days. I always say this team is not just about Aguero.___CHRISTMAS PARTYBayern is already qualified and sure to win the group, but the team want to give their fans something extra ahead of Christmas.There will be a lot of people in the stadium and we want to make them happy, said midfielder Sebastian Rode. Thats our job.Rode also promised Bayern would not take the match lightly.The fans want to see a proper match, he said.Rode joined Bayern this summer from Eintracht Frankfurt. He was not given much hope of making an impact in the star-studded squad, but has been something of a revelation. Rode was responsible for turning around the match in the 1-0 win over Leverkusen last weekend.The coach has made it clear he values me from the very first day and the best evidence of that is the increasing amount of playing time Im getting, he said. I know I did everything right by joining Bayern and Ive already learned a huge amount from my teammates and the coach, but I want more.___FAMILIAR OPPONENTSThis will be the fourth meeting in little more than a year between Bayern and CSKA.Bayern won 3-0 and 3-1 in last seasons group stage and won 1-0 in Moscow in September, courtesy of a first-half penalty from Thomas Mueller. NFL Shop Jerseys Cheap . Now, the hottest team on the ATP are pointing their sights on qualifying for the eight-team season finals in London next November. Pospisil has now established the year-end World Tour Finals as the benchmark for a breakthrough season, with Pospisil and Sock provisionally standing ninth. NFL Jerseys Wholesale . - Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery was so busy in free agency he didnt mind having a few extra weeks to prepare for the draft. http://www.cheapjerseyswholesalediscount.com/.com) - Oregon wasnt going to let Arizona ruin its national title dreams for a second straight season. Cheap NFL Jerseys . With Washington teammate Nene drawing double-teams coming off his big game against the Lakers, Gortat scored 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Wizards to a 100-92 win in overtime over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Cheap NFL Shop . Raonic, the No. 8 seed from Thornhill, Ont., fired 11 aces and did not have a double-fault as he comfortably advanced to the third round at the Masters Series event. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- After Golden States difficult road loss two nights ago in Oklahoma City, Stephen Curry was anxious to avoid a repeat performance Sunday against the Sacramento Kings. The dynamic guard came up with big play after big play, none bigger than his two free throws with 8.6 seconds left that helped the Warriors edge the Kings 115-113. Curry made five 3-pointers, scored 36 points and also added 10 assists for the Warriors, who had lost two straight and five of six. It was the sixth time in his career that Curry had matched or exceeded 30 points and 10 assists. The first five came in his rookie season. The Friday loss to Oklahoma City had been especially painful. Russell Westbrooks 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left in overtime gave the Thunder a 113-112 victory. "Its been frustrating of late, not being able to close out games, especially on the road," Curry said. "Everyone pitched in. It was a good learning lesson for us to continue to stick to the program." Klay Thompson connected on a career-high eight 3-pointers and added 28 points. Golden State hit 15 of 25 3s (60 per cent). Curry is in a terrific grove, making 15 of 28 over the last three games. "They are good players and tough to cover," Kings centre DeMarcus Cousins said. "In the beginning we didnt make it difficult for them. Later in the game we did. If we had done that early on maybe it would have been a different game." The Warriors had a 16-point lead in the third quarter and led by 10 entering the fourth. But the Kings rallied and took the lead several times in the fourth, when they outscored Golden State 33-25. After Currys two free throws broke a 113-all tie, Andrew Bogut blocked a driving reverse layup by Isaiah Thomas in the closing seconds and grabbed the rebound to secure the victory. "I saw Klay get beat and had an idea Isaiah would not be going up against me on the right side," said Bogut, who had 12 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. "I kind of read it and thankfully I got the block." Harrison Barnes and David Lee had 11 points for the Warriors, who ended a four-game road trip with a 2-2 record. In foul trouble throughout, Cousins had 24 points in just over 20 minutes. Marcus Thornton hit five 3-pointers and scored all of his 21 points in the second half, including 11 in the fourth. Thomas had 19 points and eight assists, but also committed seven of Sacramentos season-high 24 turnovers that led to 33 Warrior points. Patrick Patterson scored 18 points and Jason Thompson added 10. It was another frustrating loss for the Kings, who have droppeed four straight overall and are now 3-7 at home.dddddddddddd "I think a lot of those turnovers today was us being soft and us telegraphing our passes," Thomas said. "Especially in the second quarter when I had four or five turnovers. Two or three of them I just telegraphed - they knew where it was going." Trailing by two points twice with under a minute to play, Cousins responded with a pair of basket from close range, the second one tying the game at 113 with 12.6 seconds left. A 3-pointer by Thomas put the Kings in front 104-102 with 3:51 left. But Thompsons corner 3 and a jumper by Curry put the Warriors on top, 107-106. With the Kings down by 11 points, Thornton made a 3 to ignite a 12-2 run. Cousins ended the surge by converting a layup and making two free throws to cut Golden States lead to 100-96. "What I like about our guys is that it could have been a 16-point deficit that turned into 30, but it turned into a two-point lead and giving ourselves a chance to win," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "We were only one defensive rebound away from winning the game." After a strong first half, it was Thompson and Curry continuing their perimeter success in the third quarter, when they combined for five 3-pointers. Curry scored 11 points and Thompson had three 3-pointers and nine points, giving Golden State a 90-80 heading into the fourth. "I have a great backcourt with two guys that can light up a scoreboard," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "The thing that I love most about them is people fall in love with shooting, which is the obvious, but they compete. They have really developed into a good defensive tandem. I thought both guys did an outstanding job on the defensive end." Cousins was called for his fourth foul at the 7:45 mark of the third quarter. He argued the call and was quickly given his fifth technical of the season and went to the bench with the Kings trailing 66-59. Warriors starting forward Andre Iguodala sat out his fifth straight game with a left hamstring strain. Notes: The arena power went out during pregame introductions and lasted for 12 minutes. When power was restored, the Kings introduction was skipped and the game had no public address announcer until midway through the first quarter. . Historically, this has been a competitive matchup, with the Warriors holding a 187-185 edge. . Three Kings starters, including Cousins, had two fouls by the midway point in the opening quarter. . Warriors reserve guard Toney Douglas, who played with the Kings last year, has missed the last 11 games with a stress problem in his lower left leg. ' ' '