Today is a match day for Champions League quarter-final second-leg. AS Roma will host FC Barcelona at the “Stadio Olimpico”. A venue that holds good memories for the Blaugrana as, back in 2009, they won the Club’s third Champions League against Manchester United.In the first-leg Barcelona defeat Roma with 4-1 and now, Roma need to produce a comeback to reach the semi-finals. But what you need to know before the clash. UEFA.com noted the most important memories about this two club’s previous performances.
Roma
Diego Perotti and Kostas Manolas will incur a ban with their next bookings. The first-leg loss at Barcelona ended Roma’s five-match unbeaten run in all competitions. The Giallorossi have won three of their last five home matches.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s side have scored three or more goals six times at home so far this season. Roma have kept clean sheets in two of their last three home matches, having not managed one in the previous six. Eight of the 26 Serie A goals Roma have conceded this season have come in the final 15 minutes.
Barcelona
Sergi Roberto is a booking away from a ban. Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 38 Liga games. Barcelona have won only one of their last four away games, drawing the other three. Only five of Barcelona’s 79 goals in this season’s Liga have come in the first 15 minutes. Sergio Busquets and Nélson Semedo returned from injury in the first leg, although Busquets missed the Leganés match.
Who and how will go to semi-final
Barca will make a semi-final with any win, any draw and any loss by a margin of 2 goals or fewer. Roma goes through with a 3-0 win and any win by a margin of four goals or more. Game will go to overtime and, if necessary, penalty kicks with 4-1 Roma lead at the end of regulation.
Quotes
Ernesto Valverde
“I expect a similar approach to the first leg and how they’ve played all season. They’ll have more intensity, especially from the beginning, and they’ll want to score quickly I imagine. They have to take risks and we have to play a great game to get through.”
Eusebio Di Francesco
“I think we should choose our strongest line-up tomorrow, it’s important and we must believe. Let’s perform with great heart and passion. We have to honour and respect our club colours, so we’ll give it our all and we deserve the chance to achieve something huge”.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS by popular websites
ROMA: Alisson, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov; Florenzi, De Rossi, Strootman, El Shaarawy, Nainggolan, Schick, Dzeko.
(4-3-3): Alisson; Peres, Fazio, Manolas, Kolarov; Pellegrini, De Rossi, Nainggolan; Florenzi, Dzeko, El Shaarawy.
BARCELLONA: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Jordi Alba, Dembélé, Paulinho, Rakitic, Iniesta, Messi, Suarez.
(4-4-2): Ter Stegen, Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Alba; Dembélé, Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez
