Roma need to win against FC Barcelona

AS Roma arrive in Barcelona in need of all three points if they want to rely on themselves to secure a place in the last 16 of this season’s Champions League. Anything other than a victory would be a step in the wrong direction for the Italians and they will have one eye firmly fixed on the game between BATE Borisov and Bayer 04 Leverkusen which kicks off at 6.00pm CET. Group E is tight with Roma second on 5 points, Bayer on 4 poins and BATE Borisov on 3 points. For Tuesday’s game at Camp Nou, AS Roma coach Rudi Garcia will be without the injured Gervinho, Mohamed Salah and Francesco Totti. Furthermore, the Frenchman also revealed in his press conference on Monday at Camp Nou that midfielder Daniele De Rossi is also a doubt and will have a fitness test before the game.

Despite the players missing, Rudi Garcia is convinced his side will be competitive against Barça: “We know that they will have the ball but we have to be organised as in the first game. We have always thought if we only defend then we will surely lose. We have to all our chances,” he added.

The clash

Barça and Roma come into the game in differing form. The Italians drew their last game in Serie A 2-2 against Bologna on Saturday and they currently sit in fourth place in the table. The blaugranes are top of the league in Spain and face the team from the capital on the back of their brilliant 4-0 win against Real Madrid in the Bernabéu. That performance did not escape the attention of the Roma coach: “Barça are a great side, they are technical and they have excellent players, they are the best in the world,” he concluded.