Roma's hopes rest on an improved performance

ROME - IF ROMA want to progress in the Champions League, they will have to play better than they did last Saturday.

Then, they produced one of their worst performances in recent times in their 0-1 loss to Empoli.

The result left them 14 points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

But manager Luciano Spalletti believes the Champions League will bring out the best in his faltering team.

They face Lyon in the last 16. Today, they host the first leg.

Lyon are on course for a record sixth consecutive French league title, while Roma's Serie A challenge has faded dramatically in recent weeks.

But Spalletti is confident his players will be highly motivated for today's match.

'Lyon are mentally and physically strong, but I am convinced we will give them two great matches,' said the 47-year-old coach.

His team are unbeaten in their last eight European matches at Rome's Olympic stadium.

Lyon's coach Gerard Houllier expects an evenly-balanced tie, despite watching Roma's poor performance against Empoli.

'It wasn't the real Roma,' he said. 'Our chances of going through are 50 per cent.'

Lyon have an impressive away record in the Champions League - eight wins in their last 13 matches.

But, despite being tipped by many as potential winners of the competition, they have never gone beyond the quarter-finals.

Roma, who reached the final of the old European Cup in 1984 only to lose to Liverpool on penalties, have never qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE