FC Barcelona versus AS Roma - Champions League Quarter Finals 2018 1st Leg – Match Report

FC Barcelona versus AS Roma 

Champions League Quarter Finals 2018 1^st Leg – Match Report

An efficient display by Barcelona against the overtly defensive AS Roma

 

Italian clubs are known for their extremely compact defending and occasional attacks. AS Roma was no different. Led by the impeccable De Rossi, Roma filled their own box with 11 men whenever Barcelona tried to attack. It was so tight that Barca couldn’t come up with too many shots on goal despite going forward. Unluckily for Roma it also proved to be their undoing.

With just the occasional threat from the Italians, Barca cantered along. They still looked a bit off pace and lacked the usual coordination. But there was enough in their moves to keep Roma on the verge. Semedo and Sergi combining well together, threatened on the right, by moving forward constantly. Busquets coming back after an injury layoff, gave more solidity in the centre along with Rakitic, while Iniesta and Alba, on the left, tried their best to connect with Luis Suarez. Messi, marked by De Rossi, was mostly walking and at times tried, without much success, to weave among 10 towering, Roma players. 

To start with Roma had majority of the ball with Dzeko, Florenzi and Perotti forming the attacking trio. Semedo’s challenge on Dzeko saw Roma’s penalty appeals being turned down by the Referee. As the match progressed, Barca started to gain more control. The impressive Roma trio - Manolas, Pellegrini and Strootman supported De Rossi at the back and did not let things get out of hand. Suarez had a goal correctly ruled out for offside, while Messi’s long ranger was saved by Allison. Rakitic’s shot which was more of a cross missed everyone and hit the post (losing count of the number of times Barca have hit the woodwork this season).  Nothing much was actually happening when it came to finishing at both ends. 

Suddenly there was a one-two between the telepathically connected Iniesta and Messi.  Iniesta managed to cut back a lovely cross into the path of the charging Messi. In his attempt to stop Messi, De Rossi connected beautifully and scored a lovely own goal. It was very unfortunate for the Italian but Barca were up 1-0 in the first half.

At the start of the 2^nd half, one of the best chances of the night fell to Perotti who, sadly, headed it wide. Soon another fiasco followed. Messi gave a lovely ball to the free Rakitic in the Roma Box. A fantastic cross from Rakitic had Umtiti hitting the ball against the bar (again!). The ball bounced back on to Umtiti and then hit Manolas who was trying to tackle him and went into the goal to make it 2-0 for the hosts. It was another frustrating own goal - from Manolas, this time.

Barcelona were not only hitting the post regularly, they were also using the opposition to score bizarre goals (LOL). Barca, in this Champions League, have 5 own goals scored by their opponents. 

Barcelona kept the ball to themselves and attacked from time to time, tiring out the Roma players who were forced to track back too often. Messi gave a great pass to Suarez whose rifling shot was parried off by the desperate Allison and it fell at the feet of Pique, who happily tapped it in to make it 3-0. The Pique goal was extra special as it was the first by a Barca player in the game.

Roma were boosted by the substitutes - EL Shaarawy and Defrel. Defrel in particular was a constant threat while breaking forward. Roma went on the offensive in their search for an away goal. Ter Stegen was forced into making a couple of super saves. Roma’s aggression resulted in Dzeko getting one past Ter Stegen to make it 3-1. One more goal and a comeback was in the cards for Roma.

Valverde brought in Paulinho,  Denis Suarez and Gomes as substitutes for Busquets, Iniesta and Sergi Roberto. Denis Suarez proved to be a fantastic introduction as he brought in more speed and energy to the Barca attack. As the match moved towards the finish, a lovely cross from Denis into the Roma box, was finished off by Luis Suarez to make it 4-1. It was a nice little Suarez to Suarez affair that put the tie, almost, beyond the reach of Roma. Luis Suarez finally broke his duck in this Champions League with his first goal of the season. 

Barca were not brilliant but they were efficient, doing exactly what was necessary. Messi despite being hampered, played an important  part in the first 3 goals of Barca (and that was pretty low by his standards!). Busquets, Semedo  and Denis Suarez were solid and played well despite not playing for a few weeks now. Sergi has become more effective on the right and at the back. Iniesta and Alba are combining well. Ter Stegen managed to make some great saves despite a howler and Umtiti was good too. Luis Suarez finally scored in the Champions League which was a huge relief. The players who stood out were Rakitic and Pique who were outstanding. The Man of the Match for me was Gerard Pique for his brilliant efforts at the back and his sweet goal.

Barcelona have all the advantage as they travel to Roma for the 2^nd leg. It’s an uphill task for AS Roma as they look to overturn the huge deficit, without conceding, in their home ground next week.