Ahead of AS Roma’s Champions League fixture against Barcelona, each team’s UAE Supporters Clubs previews the game for Sport360, including predicting the likely XIs and picking their players to watch.
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Yazan Al Ghazzawi, ROMA CLUB DUBAI
Last year’s Champions League campaign – the club’s first since 2011 – was one to forget for Roma. Four years ago, the Giallorossi came back from 2-0 down to beat Bayern Munich 3-2 at the Stadio Olimpico to seal qualification to the last-16. Last season, the Bavarians dished out a 7-1 pummeling in Rome to send them out of the competition.
Roma have started the current season in great form after an excellent summer of transfers brought Edin Dzeko, Mohammad Salah, Lucas Digne, Wojciech Szczęsny, Iago Falque, Antonio Rudiger and William Vainquer to the capital to fill in clear shortcomings across various positions in the squad.
The investment has paid off – Roma have won two and drawn one, including an impressive 2-1 home victory against Juventus. There is now real hope that this team will bring home a title this season as Juve have been weakened considerably with some key departures, and the Milanese clubs are clearly still a work in progress in spite of early promise.
The visit of Barcelona comes at a crucial time for Roma – now fans and management can truly gauge whether this team are truly solid in reality. Former Roma coach Luis Enrique will be happy to be back in the Olimpico with a much stronger and more accomplished squad than the one he managed during his time in the capital, but he will know full well that no Roma team – especially not this one – can truly be written off.
When and where to watch AS Roma v FC Barcelona http://t.co/5GqvoXMpn6 #RomaFCB pic.twitter.com/AgtqkuHA4b
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 14, 2015
Current coach Garcia will be riding on a wave of optimism following excellent results in Serie A – but he won’t make the same naive mistakes he did during last year’s dismal campaign.
PREDICTION: Roma 1-1 Barcelona
LIKELY ROMA XI: Szczesny, Florenzni, Castan, Manolas, Digne, Keita, Naingollan, De Rossi, Salah, Dzeko, Falque
ROMA PLAYER TO WATCH: Edin Dzeko. The big Bosnian has already secured legendary status by securing victory against rivals Juventus and there is much expectation for him to deliver in the Champions League. Dzeko’s purchase was a strong indication of the club’s intentions for this year, and he fills a gaping hole in our front three that has existed since the glory days of Gabriel Batistuta.
BARCELONA PLAYER TO FEAR: Lionel Messi. Who else? Arguably the greatest player to ever kick a football, Roma can only pray that he has an off day. Leandro Castan, Kostas Manolas and Daniele De Rossi are far from second rate, but he has given much better players a run around in the past.
WHERE TO WATCH: Follow the noise and the colourful Giallorossi banners at Dubliner’s in Dubai’s Irish Village.
FACEBOOK: Roma Club Dubai
Daniel Rocca, BARCA PENYA UAE
This Wednesday, Barca return to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, where they raised the Champions League trophy after beating Manchester United in 2009. There are five surviving players from that team: Dani Alves, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and, of course, Leo Messi. All except Alves, who is still injured, could start.
Barca begin their defence of the Champions League as La Liga leaders, having won all three games including two tough away fixtures at Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid. Roma have not started badly either, with two wins and a draw in Serie A.
Nike reveals FC Barcelona “Night Rising” Third Kit, will wear vs AS Roma tomorrow pic.twitter.com/QZgIFlmam2
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 15, 2015
One slight concern is a lack of goals – the victories this season have been 1-0, 1-0, 2-1, which will give Roma encouragement that maybe the trio upfront have not yet got themselves in gear. Having said that, all three have a goal apiece and all were crucial in the results.
The Blaugrana will approach this trip to Luis Enrique’s former club the same way they approach every match: going out to win from the first minute without speculating, leaving their opponent to figure out how to stop them. This is the blueprint of almost every game Barca feature in.
PREDICTION: Roma 1-2 Barcelona
LIKELY BARCELONA XI: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto. Gérard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta; Leo Messi , Neymar, Luis Suarez
BARCELONA PLAYER TO WATCH: Sergi Roberto. He has been doing a great job of filling in for Dani Alves at right-back despite his real role being an attacking midfielder, including a couple of last-ditch interventions that probably would have been goals had Alves been on the pitch!
ROMA PLAYER TO FEAR: Iago Falque. Roma have a wealth of talented players – the speed of Salah, the aerial presence of Dzeko and the enduring magic of Totti. But because he is a Barcelona product, there should be a worry that Falque will return to haunt the club that nurtured him.
WHERE TO WATCH: The Penya UAE will be at the usual haunt, Seville’s restaurant in WAFI mall.
TWITTER: @barcauae
FACEBOOK: Barca Fan Club UAE
