Cengiz and Pellegrini out, Dzeko spared on the bench. We all craved for a great performance by Patrik Schick, but again it was not meant to be. Things went for the worse as Ninja Nainggolan walked away from the pitch injured. Barcelona at high risk.
Not a great game by many today, we were expecting much more from Strootman, Schick, Gerson and co. Instead, the usual hiccups, missed chances, and Edin Dzeko to rescue a point in theory but other two points wasted in practice.
Barcelona is now round the corner. No hiding. Cengiz and Pellegrini hopefully will be available, Nainggolan is 99% certainly out. Messi definitely to play instead. Pity. We all expect Barcelona to prevail easily, as some say maybe the tie will be over already after the match at the Nou Camp. In theory. In practice, there are 180 mins to be played. 11 vs 11.
Team tactics: Roma can only hope to contain the Catalan forces and find something on the counter. Steal the ball and run. Nothing more than that. Barcelona will hold the game for most of the time, keeping and passing the ball around. Only tight defense and pressing in midfield can work for Roma.
Defrel looked sharp when he came on as sub today, he could be the wild card, with Dzeko upfront, who knows. But then, Messi and co., who is going to stop them? A big good luck to the lads, hope to be able to play a great game, and keep the tie open for the second leg. As ever, always Forza Roma!