Barca eye win against Roma in Champions League quarter-final first leg
Barcelona are set to play AS Roma on Wednesday night in the 2017/18 Champions League quarter-final first leg at home. Barca go into this match as the favorites.
Kick-off : 8:45 PM (Local)
Venue : Camp Nou, Barcelona
Barcelona defeated Chelsea 4-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 to progress to this stage. After drawing the first leg at the Bridge, they netted thrice in the return leg. Leo Messi scored three goals over the course of two legs.
Barcelona are almost certainly gonna win La Liga this season and they would like to win the European trophy as well. They haven’t got as tough a tie either in the quarter-finals.
On the other hand, Roma overcame a tough Shakhtar Donetsk side in the round of 16. They progressed mainly because of the away goal they scored in Donetsk.
Roma are doing well domestically and are third in the Serie A. But they have got tough task ahead on continental level as they face one of the best sides in the world in Barcelona.
So far Barca and Roma have played each on five occasions. Out of that the Blaugrana have won a couple of games while Roma have won once, 1 other game have been a draw.
Team news and possible line-ups
Radja Nainggolan will not be available for Roma for the midweek game as due to injury. While Rick Karsdorp remains sidelined.
As for Barcelona, Sergi Samper, Lucas Digne and Sergio Busquets will all be not available as due to injury. Whereas Phillipe Coutinho is ineligible to play.
Roma XI : Alisson, J. Jesus, Kolarov, Capradossi, Fazio, Strootman, Pellegrini, De Rossi, Perotti, Under, Dzeko.
Barcelona XI : Ter Stegen, Semedo, Pique, Alba, Umtiti, Rakitic, Iniesta, Paulinho, Messi, Suarez, Dembele.
Prediction
I expect Barcelona to win this game 4-1.