Ahead of AS Roma’s away clash with Barcelona, each team’s UAE Supporters Clubs preview the game for Sport360, including predicting the likely XIs and picking their players to watch.
– EXCLUSIVE: Alessandro Florenzi on emulating Totti
Do you agree with the assessments of Arsenal and Spurs’ Supporters Clubs? Let us know using #360fans on Twitter or commenting on the Sport360 Football Facebook page.
Daniel Rocca, BARCA PENYA UAE
After a glorious weekend, a euphoric Barcelona return to Champions League action still needing a point to finish the job and qualify for the last 16.
While welcoming Roma to the Camp Nou, Barca will also be welcoming Leo Messi back to the starting line-up after he made a second-half cameo appearance in the Bernabeu.
When and where to watch FC Barcelona v AS Roma https://t.co/3lSiUfKFNv #UCL #FCBvRoma pic.twitter.com/r7CQSGa1bl
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 24, 2015
With a small squad at his disposal, Luis Enrique will not be able to rotate much so the team will likely be very similar to that of Saturday.
Roma will be hoping Barca are suffering a Clasico hangover but claiming a victory will be a tall order indeed. Only by playing with a huge amount of discipline at the back and a lot of patience up front can this semi-miracle be achieved.
PREDICTION: Barcelona 3-0 Roma.
LIKELY BARCELONA XI: Ter Stegen, Alves, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba, Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Suarez, Neymar
BARCELONA PLAYER TO WATCH: Lionel Messi. He is back and he is hungry. Expect a goal or two.
ROMA PLAYER TO FEAR: Edin Dzeko. Has looked impressive for the Giallorossi this season and can be a handful with his physicality. However, playing alone up front at Camp Nou, he will need the patience of a saint!
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
Yazan Al Ghazzawi, ROMA CLUB DUBAI
Fortunes have changed slightly for Roma since the exciting 1-1 stalemate against Barcelona a couple of months ago. The Giallorossi are sitting three points from the summit of Serie A, having blown the chance to go top at the weekend after a disappointing draw away to minnows Bologna on a waterlogged pitch.
There is a growing sense of urgency in the capital for a patch of consistency – Roma have shown some moments of brilliance this season (the first half against Leverkusen, the overwhelming derby win against Lazio), but have yet to unleash their full potential.
It’s matchday! #FCBRoma @ChampionsLeague Are you ready? Forza ROMA! pic.twitter.com/1EIJwfgnS0
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) November 24, 2015
A crunch match away to arguably the greatest team in the world is probably not the right time to start off a purple patch – but as some of Europe’s finest can attest in recent years, you should never write off the Romans.
A win would surely strengthen their chances, but is definitely unlikely given the quality of the opposition and the key personnel missing from the line-up – namely Mohamed Salah and Gervinho, the team’s highest scorers this season.
A draw would be an excellent result, and a loss would be disastrous. While another Alessandro Florenzi wonderstrike would be highly unlikely, Roma have proven time and again this season that their squad is far from devoid of magic – even from the unlikeliest of sources.
PREDICTION: Barcelona 1-1 Roma
LIKELY ROMA XI: Szczesny, Florenzi, De Rossi, Manolas, Digne, Pjanic, Naingollan, Keita, Iturbe, Dzeko, Falque
ROMA PLAYER TO WATCH: Miralem Pjanic. The Bosnian has been in superb form this season – and is still statistically the most prolific free-kick taker in all of Europe.
His eight goals so far have surpassed most of his previous season totals, and he has truly come into his own as a leader on the pitch in the absence of Francesco Totti.
BARCELONA PLAYER TO FEAR: All of them. The 4-0 dismantling of Real Madrid has put the theory that Lionel Messi = Barcelona to bed, showing just how good the Catalans really are and how far they’ve come as a unit under former Roma boss Luis Enrique. Suarez, Neymar, Iniesta – there really is nothing to say; the team is out of this world.
WHERE TO WATCH: Follow the noise and the colorful Giallorossi banners at Dubliner’s in Irish Village!
FACEBOOK: Roma Club Dubai
