Spalletti's troops head into Wednesday's return leg of their last-16 tie against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu with a 2-1 advantage after the first leg in Rome.

Roma are in buoyant mood after reducing the gap to Serie A leaders Internazionale to six points with a thumping 4-0 win over Parma on Saturday, and are now bidding to reach the last eight of the Champions League for the second year in a row.

"This is the biggest game of the season for both teams," Spalletti said. "It's a fascinating and delicate encounter.

"To play for a place in the quarter-finals against Real Madrid is spellbinding for any coach."

And Spalletti has no doubt who will be Roma's talisman on Wednesday night.

"We have Totti," he said. "Totti creates light, creative play and assists, Totti is Totti, he is the soul of Roma."

Spalletti believes Brazil striker Robinho will be the man Roma need to contain if they are to eliminate the Spanish champions.

Robinho missed the opening leg through injury but returned on Saturday to score twice after appearing as a second-half substitute in the 3-2 win against Recreativo Huelva.

"Real have a great player in Robinho," said Spalletti. "He is football, he has quality and a great touch."

The Roma coach added that he will not instruct his players to try and sit on their narrow advantage from the first leg.

"We cannot go into the game with the focus of trying to stop Real from scoring," he said. "We must score because if we try to control the first leg result it will be a disaster."

Roma welcome back defender Juan, who missed the first leg with a foot injury, while Spalletti will have to do without Marco Cassetti, who has a dislocated shoulder.