Barcelona have tied with AS Roma for the Quarter Finals of the UEFA Champions League this season. The first leg is set to take place at the Camp Nou on Wednesday evening and the Catalan giants will be looking towards a comfortable victory.
Ernesto Valverde and his men knocked Chelsea out of the competition with an aggregate 4-1 scoreline in the Round of 16 stage. They were held to a 1-1 draw at the Stamford Bridge but at home could not be stopped even by the impressive defensive setup Antonio Conte had in place.
AS Roma managed to scrape past Shakhtar Donetsk in the previous stage of the competition by the virtue of away goals. The Ukrainian outfit won 2-1 in the first leg but could not register a single a goal in the second leg Stadio Olimpico.
As recent history would dictate, this round is expected to be the last of Roma’s European campaign this season but deep down in the corner of us hopefuls, we remain optimistic.
Barcelona are already leading the La Liga with a 9 point lead over Atletico Madrid and are through to the final of the Copa Del Rey. Their domestic campaign might just be taken care off as they look to overcome their bitter rivals as the European champions.
Here is how they might lineup for this fixture.
Formation: 4-3-3
Defence
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is club’s first choice keeper and is expected to start in this fixture in between the sticks.
Sergio Roberto might get fielded in the right-back position with Jordi Alba taking up his usual spot on the left. Nelson Semedo has hardly seen the pitch in recent times and Lucas Digne has already been ruled out with an injury.
Samuel Umtiti is predicted to start alongside Gerard Pique in the centre-back positions.The duo has formed a working partnership.
Midfield
Sergio Busquets has returned to first-team training this week and is expected to appear in the starting XI in the anchor role. Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta might get featured ahead of him in the attacking midfield role.
Attack
Lionel Messi often operates from deep with a free-flowing movement pattern from the right-hand side. With Luis Suarez up top as the lone striker and Ousmane Dembele on the left wing, the Argentinian will be his usual self against the Serie A outfit and look to improve upon his goalscoring tally.
Philippe Coutinho is ineligible for selection.
