Barcelona are starting the defence of their Champions League trophy with a repeat of how they won it in the first place—with a match against one of Serie A’s elite.
Whereas back in June it was Juventus who stood in their way in the Berlin final, now it is coach Luis Enrique’s former club, Roma, who seek to inflict early damage on the holders, but three wins from three La Liga matches suggest that will be easier said than done for the team from the Italian capital.
Barca aren’t quite purring just yet, but they are winning.
Lionel Messi climbed off the bench to earn a crucial victory at Atletico Madrid at the weekend, and he’ll be back in the starting lineup in Rome, where the efforts to combat him will have been the talk of the town.
Rudi Garcia’s Roma have also started their season well, with new signings Edin Dzeko, Iago Falque and Mohamed Salah all settling in quickly, but this will be a step up in class that they’ll do well to take anything from.
Date: Wednesday, September 16
Time: 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV Info: BT Sport Showcase (UK) / Fox Sports (US)
Live Stream: BT Sport (UK) / Fox Sports (US)
Last 6 Results (excluding friendlies)
Roma
Won 2-1 vs. Udinese
Won 2-1 vs. Lazio
Lost 2-1 vs. Palermo
Drew 1-1 vs. Verona
Won 2-1 vs. Juventus
Won 2-0 vs. Frosinone
Barcelona
Won 5-4 vs. Sevilla (aet)
Lost 4-0 vs. Athletic Bilbao
Drew 1-1 vs. Athletic Bilbao
Won 1-0 vs. Athletic Bilbao
Won 1-0 vs. Malaga
Won 2-1 vs. Atletico Madrid
Predicted Lineups
Roma are likely to revert to a side similar to the one which won their biggest game of the season so far—the 2-1 victory over Juventus in Serie A which so derailed the campaign of last season’s Champions League runners-up.
Dzeko will spearhead the attack and look for support from Falque and Salah from out wide, meaning that Francesco Totti might have to be content with a place on the bench as he seeks a landmark 300th goal for Roma in all competitions.
One club icon who won’t be on the bench, though, is Messi, who is certain to return to the starting lineup in place of Rafinha following the birth of his second son.
Thomas Vermaelen was injured in the win at Atletico Madrid, but Gerard Pique’s domestic ban doesn’t apply for Champions League games so he’ll come straight back in to partner Javier Mascherano, meaning that all of the likely lineup--bar right-back Sergi Roberto--started the Champions League final in Berlin 102 days ago.
Key Players
Roma: Edin Dzeko
He left Manchester City to play more prominent roles in matches such as this, and now he’s moved on to to Roma it is time for Dzeko to prove that he can be much more than a forward who just performs in fits and starts.
The Bosnian clearly has talent, but he needs players around him to provide him with service if he is to flourish, and in Falque and Salah he might have just that.
Perhaps looking to play on Mascherano’s side in a bid to win the physical battles, Dzeko could profit from crosses into the box and trouble a Barca back-line which has admittedly improved from their pre-season struggles.
Barcelona: Neymar
With Messi still seated on the bench against Atletico Madrid at the weekend, Neymar took advantage of the rare chance to take a free-kick and duly dispatched it into the top corner of the net.
It was yet another example of the Brazilian’s staggering goalscoring ability, and as he kicks a Champions League football for the first time since his goal killed off Juventus in Berlin in June, Neymar is, arguably, Barca’s greatest goalscoring threat in the Italian capital.
His movement from the left flank and into scoring positions is a true art, and with Messi and Luis Suarez around to paint pictures and create opportunities around the edge of the box, don’t be surprised if Neymar pops up with a goal.
Key Battle
Radja Nainggolan vs. Ivan Rakitic
The two opposite No. 4s will have key roles to play as each side looks to gain a grip of the midfield in Rome, where Radja Nainggolan has quickly become a fans’ favourite following his January 2014 move from Cagliari.
The bustling Belgian goes about his job in a very different way to Barcelona’s more stylish Ivan Rakitic, and both can make their presence felt in the centre third of the pitch in different ways.
Croatia’s Rakitic will still be on a high from his goal in last season’s Champions League final, and he’s likely to be the biggest goalscoring threat from midfield for the visitors as he gets up in support of their famed front three.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Roma – 4/1
Barcelona – 5/8
Draw – 11/4
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2566919-roma-vs-barcelona-team-news-predicted-lineups-live-stream-tv-info
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