PBP: UEFA Champions League | Matchday 1 | AS Roma v FC Barcelona | 16 September 2015 [R]

Cut and paste of what I wrote in the season thread yesterday, guess I was too anxious:
So for Roma I think we cannot afford much rotation at all but can then rotate a bit at home in the Liga match next weekend. Fortunately Leo got rested, Rakitic came off too (when Leo came on), and Pique was still suspended. Injury wise we are without Alves, Verm, Bravo and Douglas. So this is what I expect to see:
MAtS
S'Roberto-Pique-Masch-Alba
Raki-Busq-Ini
Messi-Suarez-Neymar

Ideally get some rest for 3 of Masch, Ini, Alba, and Raki.

 

6 first teamers stay home: Arda and Aleix not yet registered, Douglas, Verm, Dani and Bravo injured, leaves us with 18 of 24 first teamers. Gumbau and Jose Suarez (GK) joined on the trip, Carles Alena trained with the team yesterday too but did not make the trip (17 y.o. midfielder nicknamed Pivaldo).

Where is everybody, it's time for CL!

 

Important match for Roma. Unclear right now how good this team really is and this match should provide some clarity in that regard. Also their next 2 CL games are away so they really need something from this match.

 

here where we start the campaign to win back to back Champion League for the first time.

I do have a feeling we will do it this year

 

Hey, that's what I already said. Hopefully we see it as it is our strongest with Verm, Dani, and (for Puyol's sake I'll add even though he would not feature today) Bravo out.

 

It is so quiet here I checked out the Roma matchday thread and they have over 150 posts. Don't get me wrong, I think that adds to the community sense around here (that we don't have a huge # of commenters or posts for such a big club) but sometimes it seems odd. Is it because of Barca specialty sites in English (barcaforum, totalbarca, barcastuff, etc.) or just what?

Anyways I read on their site that Enrique said Pique won't play meaning Mathieu (or Bartra) plays with Masch but I don't see any confirmation of that after a quick spin around barcastuff and Sport. So sticking with my pick above.

 

I think we're gonna tie 2-2 cause MATS cant keep a clean sheet

 

Barcelona line-up (official): TerStegen - SergiRoberto Pique Mathieu Alba - Rakitic Busquets Iniesta - Messi Suarez Neymar. So the big surprise is Masch gets rested and we start with more height in the backline against the height of Dzeko and others.

Bench Barcelona: Masip, Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano, Rafinha, Munir, Sandro (the barca b players Gumbau and Suarez watch from stands). The injured or not yet registered players stayed in Barca to recuperate/train. The youth tied Roma 0-0 in the afternoon game of under-19 (Juvenal A squad for the most part).

ROMA: Roma XI vs Barca: Szczesny; Florenzi, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; De Rossi, Keita (former Barca god), Nainggolan; Salah, Dzeko, Iago Falque (former Barca B).

 

ha ha, get a room with Puyol please

 

you keep laughing , and that ******* idiot keeps conceding , not gona change in this match

 

lets go Barca

 

wow what a bullet from messi , and there i thought the color of the kits might get him down for some reason

 

6 academy players start for us, plus an academy (La Masia) player starts for them.

 

I really like our 3rd kit!!

 

SAUREZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

 

Dracula bites!!

 

Donkey!

 

Suarez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0-1.

Just when it looked like we would concede first...

 

Rak-ez for a great pass to nicely headed goal. What is Roma's coach complaining about?

 

well there was contact even if the GK tried to back off but Suarez looked he was gunning for it ( would've worked out if it was Ronaldo though )

 

He was complaining that his player ( who was trying to grab messi ) got injured during the process and he should've been giving a foul

 

MATS YOU ********ING IDIOT !!!!!!!