Roma captain Totti out of United Champions League clash

Roma have been dealt a massive blow ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Manchester United after captain Francesco Totti was ruled out with a thigh strain.

Totti played the full 90 minutes of Roma's 1-1 draw at Cagliari on Saturday with heavy strapping on his knee but was spotted clutching the back of his left thigh several times.

And the club later confirmed Totti will miss Tuesday's quarter-final first-leg tie in Rome and is a major doubt for the return leg at Old Trafford on April 9.

"At the end of yesterday's encounter, Francesco Totti complained of a pain in the flexor of his left thigh,' said a club statement.

"In the morning of Sunday March 30 he was subjected to tests that highlighted a muscular injury in the cavity of the left thigh flexor. The player will have to have a period of rest and the situation will be monitored over the next few days."

Totti's loss is a big blow to Italy's sole Champions League survivor. He is their top scorer in Serie A this term with 14 goals and he picked up the European Golden Boot last season with 26 league strikes.

The injury is also a major blow to Roma's Serie A title ambitions. They currently trail leaders Inter Milan by four points.