Tuesday, 10 April 2018 20:45 BARCELONA TIME STADIO OLIMPICO ROME, ITALY PREVIOUS MEETINGS UCL 05-04-2018 FT Barcelona 4 : 1 Roma UCL 25-11-2015 FT Barcelona 6 : 1 Roma UCL 17-09-2015 FT Roma 1 : 1 Barcelona ICF 06-08-2015 FT Barcelona 3 : 0 Roma UCL 27-02-2002 FT Roma 3 : 0 Barcelona UCL 21-02-2002 FT Barcelona 1 : 1 Roma SQUAD LIST FOR THE MATCH Ter Stegen, Cillessen, A. Ortolá Semedo, S. Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Yerry Mina, Vermaelen, Alba Rakitic, Sergio, D. Suárez, Iniesta, Paulinho, André Gomes, Vidal Suárez, Messi, Dembélé, Paco Alcácer VISCELBARCA
Curious if we adopt any more of a defensive / counterattacking formation. Not sure we can play much differently, but, for instance playing Semedo (or Paulinho or ?) instead of Dembele would suggest more defensive emphasis, though it could hurt the quick counter chances. Basically we can just play our game with our best available 11, but Roma will have to attack, which should give us more opportunities to score esp. on the counter. MAtS Roberto?-Pique-Umtiti-Alba ????-Raki-Busi-Ini Messi-Suarez I'd like the 4th mid/3rd forward to be Dembele, but could also see Semedo start and move Roberto to that position. Happy with any of those 12 forming our starting 11. Don't really want to see Paulinho, Gomes, Denis get the start.
If both Semedo and Dembele play then Roberto is on the bench. As the rest of the lineup is pretty iron clad in big games when all are healthy and eligible (MAtS, Pique, Umtiti, Alba, Raki-Busi-Ini, Leo & Luis). It would be rare to see Roberto on the bench in a big game which is why I predicted like I did, basically could be Semedo and Roberto in front of him, or could be Roberto at RB and Dembele in front of him. The third possibility is what you predict. I will take that bet (I think only one of Semedo or Dembele starts). Not to mention other possible starters who I don't really want to see starting in that 4th mid / 3rd forward role, which I don't think we see, but another reason I would not say for sure to Semedo and Dembele starting.
Pretty simple: Roma needs 3-0. If we score, they need 4 to force ET, 5 to advance outright. Don't make this difficult, Barca.
Roma have beaten three teams this season by 3-0: Hellas Verona, Torino and Chelsea. Quite remarkably, last season they won 9 home games by a scoreline that would be enough to turn-around a 4-1 deficit, although none of them against top teams.
Agreed, but we are not great a bunkering or parking the bus. We will try to dominate possession as usual which should help prevent them from scoring 3. They will need to press, try to get us to make mistakes which they can capitalize upon. Our more compact lines and double pivot under Valverde should make us less vulnerable to counters but not immune. Their pressing for a goal, especially an early one should open them up at the back and we'll want to try to break fast and from deep at times to punish them, with anyone from MAtS, our CBs, to our DMs looking to set free Messi, Suarez, or a streaking winger like Dembele, or even a surprise charge forward by a Rakitic, Roberto, Semedo, or Alba rewarded with a long ball. But yeah, if we can just out possess Roma it should not be difficult and their pressing should also lead us to getting at least a goal which makes their need score even more desperate. Bigger issue for us is that Busquets is apparently a doubt. If he cannot play Raki plays the Busi role and either Paulinho or Gomes or Roberto plays the other pivot. Paulinho has not been great in that role. Gomes actually had his best passing game at Barca in that role on the weekend. But for a CL match I'd rather not start him. So IF Busi cannot go then I'd change my tune and agree with @bronx_bull that we could see Semedo and Dembele start, as then we could see Roberto start too. But again that is just if Busi cannot start. No Busi best guess: MAtS Semedo-Pique-Umtiti-Alba Dembele-Roberto-Raki-Ini Messi-Suarez with Busi best guess but could also see Dembele start instead of Semedo and Roberto back at RB: MAtS Semedo-Pique-Umtiti-Alba Roberto-Raki-Busi-Ini Messi-Suarez Personally I think we see Busi start. 18 person list not out yet, but here's who went to Rome on the plane (all first teamers minus CL-cup-tied Coutinho and injured Digne; plus 3rd keeper just in case anything happens in training to first 2): The manager Ernesto Valverde is not able to call on the injured Lucas Digne and the unavailable Coutinho, who played in the competition with Liverpool. Therefore, the final squad list of 21 is the following: Ter Stegen, Cillessen, A. Ortolá (31), N. Semedo, Piqué, I. Rakitic, Sergio, Denis Suárez, A. Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, O. Dembélé, Paulinho, Paco Alcácer, Jordi Alba, S. Roberto, André Gomes, Aleix Vidal, Umtiti, Yerry Mina and Vermaelen.
I agree with sport, dembele wont play. We will have to attack with a medium block, invite Roma forward with dribbling and counter at force. First goal from Barca will change everything.
Busquets practiced with the group yesterday so I'm hoping he can play. If he cannot the Sport lineup is good, and playing as 2nd pivot is where Gomes has shown competence esp of late. But I'd still love to play Roberto there with Raki and play Dembele or Vidal as 4th mid/RW. But Sport lineup is probably correct IF Busquets cannot play. I hope Busquets will play. I haven't seen the 18 man roster posted yet but a game preview I just looked at had Busquets listed with Digne and Arnaiz as unable to play
So Sergio Busquets is playing, our 2nd most irreplaceable player on a night we can really use his calm to marshall the whole field. Got the With Busi lineup 100% correct I believe, though I guess I hedged a bit and had a with Busi and Semedo version (here) but also allowed for the chance of a with Busi and Dembele version (where Roberto plays RB instead of mid). Here's what I predicted: with Busi best guess but could also see Dembele start instead of Semedo and Roberto back at RB: MAtS Semedo-Pique-Umtiti-Alba Roberto-Raki-Busi-Ini Messi-Suarez Glad we have our strongest eligible team out there as we have a bit of work to do.
and Umtiti loses the ball which results in a corner which they almost score from , if he wants a raise then he's sure doing a horrible job trying to justify it ...