The Europa League may be the Champions League's less important, less famous and less attractive sister i.e the Khloe Kardashian of football competitions, but don't let that deter you because we've actually got a very decent game lined up here as Roma travel to Fiorentina in the first leg of their last-16 tie at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Let's go.

We're in Florence, the city that has the pleasure of housing Michaelangelo's Renaissance sculpture David - otherwise known as the statue that makes us males feel better about our, hmm, let's not. But in a city littered with fine art and culture, here's to hoping that we get a match befitting of its setting - and I think we will.

We'll have an in-depth look at both sides a little later, but first let's get cracking on some team news, shall we? Why the heck not. Stay tuned.

FIORENTINA XI: Neto; Rodriguez, Basanta, Alonso, Tomovic; Badelj, Pizarro, Valero; Salah, Joaquin, Illicic

ROMA XI: Skorupski; Torosidis, Manolas, Mapou, Cholevas; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Keita; Florenzi, Ljajic, Iturbe

FIORENTINA SUBS: Lezzerini, Richards, Vargas, Pasqual, Aquilani, Fernandez, Babacar

ROMA SUBS: De Sanctis; Astori, Cole, Pjanic, Gervinho, Verde, Doumbia,

Right, I suppose we'll start with the hosts then and I can confirm that Mr Montella makes five changes from that 4-0 defeat to Lazio.

Gonzalo Rodriguez and Marcos Alonso come into the defence at the expense of Stefan Savic and Manuel Pasqual. Jasmin Kurtic and Matias Fernandez drop out of midfield for David Pizarro and Borja Valero, while Alessandro Diamanti makes way for Joaquin, who forms one part of a three-pronged attack comprising of Josip Illicic and in-form Mohamad Salah, who has six goals in seven games since joining on loan from Chelsea #dangerman.

On to the hosts now and Rudi Garcia makes no fewer than SIX changes to his side from that 0-0 draw at Chievo!

Skorupski; Torosidis, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Cholevas, De Rossi AND Adem Ljajic - who spent three years at Fiorentina - come into the fold. Will it be enough to give them a first-leg win? Time will tell.

This will be the fourth time that these two have met this season. Let's take a quick look at how both have fared against one another in the 2014-15 campaign:

So, Roma kicked off the season with a 2-0 win over Fiorentina, but the Viola had their revenge when they returned to the Stadio Olimpico just last month and sent the hosts crashing out of the Coppa Italia with a 2-0 victory, courtesy of a Mario Gomez brace. Prior to that, both sides met here in January, where they played out a 1-1 draw. So the duo have one win, one defeat and one draw apiece. Where's your money? In your wallet? That's wise because lord knows what's going to happen tonight.

PREDICTION! With the final day of Cheltenham on the horizon, I've been reluctant to stick any money on this, but I'd be backing a draw if anything because, well, Roma have drawn EIGHT of their 10 Serie A outings since the turn of the year. Roma, very much like Neil Buchanon from Art Attack, specialise in drawing! 1-1. Let's go.

Right, kickoff is imminent now as we endure the Europa League anthem, which is a bit of Jedward compared to the Champions League one but, hey, we can't have it all.

KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off. Roma get us underway in this all-Italian clash at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Let's go then!

Probably a half-chance for Roma there as De Rossi headed at goal but nobody was on hand to convert his teasing header. Promising for the visitors early on but you wouldn't call it a chance now. Not at all.

It's early doors but Fiorentina have knocked it around very, very nicely at times. We touched on how brilliant Salah and he is definitely one to watch tonight.

Juan Manuel Iturbe must do better here. He dispossesses Milan Badelj in the middle of the park as Roma look to launch a swift counter, and it's three on two in Roma's favour but, instead of using his support players, Iturbe tries to go around Tomovic and the attack fizzles out. Disappointing.

Fiorentina are well on top, and the hosts are nearly in as left-back Marcos Alonso, formerly of Bolton Wanderers of course, races through in an effort to catch Illicic's through ball, but the Roma keeper gathers.

SHOT! We've seen our first real attempt at goal, and it's David Pizarro as the Fiorentina midfielder launches a fierce drive that whistles just wide of the post. Fine attempt but lacked the accuracy to worry Roma.

Fiorentina have been the better side thus far and they've got their reward. It's a mistake from Daniele De Rossi as his misplaced pass finds Salah, who runs at Roma's defence before threading a ball through for Illicic, who makes no mistake with a brilliant near-post finish to beat Skorupski. Fine goal.

ROMA SUB: What a shocking night for De Rossi, who is hauled off after just 21 minutes in favour of Miralem Pjanic. It appears to be tactical from Rudi Garcia, too. Still, no matter how low I felt, I'd just look in the mirror and feel instantly better by virtue of the magnificent beard looking back at me.

SHOT! Fiorentina still well on top here, unfortunately for Roma supporters, as Basanta, who scored against Spurs in the last round, fires a tame shot well over the crossbar. Roma need a great big kick up the you know what.

ROMA SUB: Oh god it just keeps getting worse for Roma, who are now forced into a sub as defender Kostas Manolas makes way for Davide Astori. So, they're 1-0 down, there's 64 minutes left AND Roma have already used two subs. Hmm.

Despite their woes, this is much better from Roma as substitute Pjanic drives a couple of brilliant crosses into the box but Adem Ljajic cannot connect with either of them. Promising, though.

BOOKING: Radja Nainnggolan goes into the book for a pretty bad challenge on Illicic, while David Pizarro also enters the book just now for a cynical handball. It's all gone a bit scrappy.

BOOKING: Alonso follows Pizarro into the referee's notebook for welcoming Davide Astori to the game. Incidentally, it's the referee's birthday today. Useless bit of info #1

Right, there's 10 minutes left in this half and, as it stands, Roma aren't doing a whole lot it has to be said. They are the draw specialists, though, so they may well dig their way back into this one. It'll be tough but.

It's just not Roma's night. They try to execute what seems a clever free kick routine, but Nainnggolan's disguised ball ends up rolling out for a goal kick. If Roma were a dog you'd put them down. They've been really, really poor.

SHOT! Pretty sure this is Roma's fist shot at goal, as Radja Nainnggolan drills an effort a good bit wide of the far post from outside the box.

CHANCE!!!! Oh no it just keeps getting worse for Roma. This looks a certain goal, as Neto spills Florenzi's shot and Adem Ljajic, against his former club, looks certain to tidy up the rebound but he fires it well over the bar and he, nor his teammates, can believe it. Madness.

Well, that's all she wrote in that half, my friends. Josip Illicic's near-post strike on 17 minutes proves the difference between the sides at the halfway point. Not a great half for Roma, is it?

First, Daniele De Rossi, the man responsible for conceding possession before Fiorentina went and scored, was hauled off for Miralem Pjanic, before Rudi Garcia then made his second sub, this time a forced one as Kostas Manolas hobbled off injured and was replaced by Davide Astori. If that wasn't bad enough, then Adem Ljajic, a former Fiorentina favourite, goes and misses a gilt-edged chance to draw level at the end of the half. If it wasn't for bad luck Roma would have none at all.

RESTART: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back underway in Florence, my friends. Roma, playing from left to right in this half, kick us off once more. Big 45 minutes ahead for the visitors, who don't deserve anything from this game if the first half is anything to go by.

Good work From Joaquin, who was virtually anonymous in the first half, as the winger uses the width of the pitch to good advantage before fizzing a dangerous ball into the box, but it's cleared.

Considering the ref dished out four yellows in the first half, Seydou Keita is remarkably lucky to escape a booking here as he cynically takes down Joaquin. Poor decision that.

SAVE! First real save of the game here as Ljajic's near-post effort is denied by Neto, who does well not to fumble it - and he couldn't because Florenzi, I think, was there lurking hoping for the rebound.

Fiorentina wasted a decent enough set-piece opportunity then as Illicic drove a poor free kick straight into the Roma wall. It favoured a right-footed player, and maybe a cross would've been a better option.

CHANCE! Better from Roma, and Ljajic, who missed that earlier chance in the first half, should've done better here. The former Fiorentina man is found by Pjanic's brilliant clipped ball but, after controlling on his chest, tried to take it back inside on to his left when he should've just walloped it. They've had chances, have Roma.

Roma players are furious because they want a red card for goalkeeper Neto, who brought down Juan Manuel Iturbe, but it's only a yellow. It's going to be Ljajic....

An already miserable night for Roma gets even worse Adem Ljajic sees his tame penalty well saved by Neto, who the Roma players felt should've been sent off. Credit to the referee because, in truth, Fiorentina had two players back on the line prior to Neto's foul on Iturbe so it wasn't a clear goalscoring opportunity. Still, what a shocker for Ljajic.

Just a reminder that Ljajic was also the fella who missed that gilt-edged opportunity in the first half. It's been a rough night for the Serbian on his return to the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

CLOSE! Fiorentina pick up where they left off prior to that penalty save as Borja Valero drills a decent shot just wide of Skorupski's near post. I was going to say 'it was never beating the Pole' but you never know with this fella between the sticks.

I can't tell if this is brave or insane from the already-booked Neto, who comes haring out of his goal to beat Nainnggolan to a 50-50 ball, but it falls to Pjanic, whose eyes are surely lighting up at the prospect of lobbing the Brazilian from 40 yards, but before he can execute he's taken out of it by Milan Badelj who takes on for the team. Yellow card.

FIORENTINA SUB: Montella makes his first change as Alberto Aquilani replaces Borja Valero to line up against his former club.

CLOSE! Brilliant run by left-back Marcos Alonso but he drills just wide of Skorupski's near post. Fine solo run but unfortunately it did not have the finish to match.

ROMA SUB: Final throw of the dice for Roma as Gervinho comes on for Adem Ljajic, who has missed two gilt-edged chances against his former club tonight - one being five-yard miss, while the other came from the penalty spot. Night to forget for him.

Ljajic is breathing a huge sigh of relief now, as Keita evades his marker to thunder Florenzi's brilliant corner past Neto and suddenly we've got a game on our hands. Let's go.

Fiorentina have a decent free-kick opportunity now and Salah will whip this into the box I'm sure....

CHANCE!!!!!!!! Roma might've actually won it here as Juan Manuel Iturbe blazes over the crossbar with a left-footed shot from close range. He could, and should, have done a lot better.

Worrying signs now as the goalscorer Keita hobbles off the field to receive treatment; problem is Roma have used all their subs! Might Fiorentina face 10 men for the last 10 minutes or so?

Nope. Keita is back on his feet and back on the pitch so we should end 11 vs. 11 - unfortunately for Fiorentina, who would've had their hopes up just there.

We're into the last two minutes here then and, as it stands, we're going to a draw. Roma, the draw specialists, look like doing it again.

CLOSE! Fierce strike from Radja Nainggolan there as he drives a great shot just over the bar. Good effort.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand that's it, folks. It's a tale of two halves as Roma fight back through Seydou Keita to earn a potentially vital away goal and draw 1-1 in Florence tonight. It was by no means a cracker, but I enjoyed it, and hopefully you did too. Anyways, that's all we've got time for tonight ladies and gents, but thanks for tuning in and we'll see you on the flipside.