Simplify.

backbone.js

@@ -1529,7 +1529,9 @@
 
     // Does the pathname match the root?
     matchRoot: function() {
-      return this.rootMatcher.test(this.location.pathname);
+      var path = this.decodeFragment(this.location.pathname);
+      var root = path.slice(0, this.root.length - 1) + '/';
+      return root === this.root;
     },
 
     // Unicode characters in `location.pathname` are percent encoded so they're
@@ -1594,11 +1596,6 @@
       // Normalize root to always include a leading and trailing slash.
       this.root = ('/' + this.root + '/').replace(rootStripper, '/');
 
-      // A regular expression for testing the pathname against the root.
-      this.rootMatcher = new RegExp(
-        '^' + this.root.slice(0, -1).replace(escapeRegExp, '\\$&') + '(/|$)'
-      );
-
       // Transition from hashChange to pushState or vice versa if both are
       // requested.
       if (this._wantsHashChange && this._wantsPushState) {

test/router.js

@@ -968,4 +968,28 @@
     Backbone.history.start({root: 'x+y.z', pushState: true});
   });
 
+  test("roots with unicode characters", 1, function() {
+    location.replace('http://example.com/®ooτ/foo');
+    Backbone.history.stop();
+    Backbone.history = _.extend(new Backbone.History, {location: location});
+    var Router = Backbone.Router.extend({
+      routes: {'foo': 'foo'},
+      foo: function(){ ok(true); }
+    });
+    var router = new Router;
+    Backbone.history.start({root: '®ooτ', pushState: true});
+  });
+
+  test("roots without slash", 1, function() {
+    location.replace('http://example.com/®ooτ');
+    Backbone.history.stop();
+    Backbone.history = _.extend(new Backbone.History, {location: location});
+    var Router = Backbone.Router.extend({
+      routes: {'': 'index'},
+      index: function(){ ok(true); }
+    });
+    var router = new Router;
+    Backbone.history.start({root: '®ooτ', pushState: true});
+  });
+
 })();