Roma suffered another Champions League humiliation, beaten 6-1 by Barcelona, but have a good chance of qualification.
See how it all unfolded on our Liveblog.
It’s not all bad news, as Roma will qualify if they beat BATE Borisov or draw that match and Bayer Leverkusen fail to beat Barcelona.
Roma suffered another Champions League humiliation, beaten 6-1 by Barcelona, but have a good chance of qualification.
See how it all unfolded on our Liveblog.
It’s not all bad news, as Roma will qualify if they beat BATE Borisov or draw that match and Bayer Leverkusen fail to beat Barcelona.
There were big injury problems for both sides, missing Mohamed Salah, Gervinho, Francesco Totti, Javier Mascherano, Rafinha and Douglas Costa, while Daniele De Rossi and Andres Iniesta were only fit for the bench. This moved Alessandro Florenzi to a more advanced role in the trident attack. Barça were fresh from a 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid at the weekend.
Surprisingly, Barcelona had never beaten Roma in three Champions League meetings, drawing twice 1-1 and losing 3-0 at the Olimpico in 2002.
In the fourth minute Wojciech Szczesny flew for a one-handed save on Messi’s curler, as ‘The Flea’ made his first start in two months. Messi had the ball in the net, but only after the offside flag was raised for a tight Neymar position. Lucas Digne kept him in play soon after, but the daisy-cutter skimmed the upright.
Roma should’ve scored from their first corner, but Edin Dzeko turned a free header over from seven yards.
They were made to pay for the offside trap tactic, as it failed when Antonio Rudiger kept Dani Alves in play and he rolled across for Luis Suarez to tap in.
Moments later the Roma defence was again caught horribly square by a double give-and-go between Neymar and Messi, the Argentine chipping Szczesny from the tightest of angles.
Lucas Digne dived in for a last-ditch challenge to stop Suarez making it 3-0, but the high defensive line was extremely risky and often failed. The Giallorossi rarely got out of their own half either, so the tactic simply wasn’t working.
Roma did finally force a save from Marc-Andre Ter Stegen on 40 minutes, a Miralem Pjanic free kick chipped up for Florenzi to volley across the six-yard box.
It was a rare moment, as on the stroke of half-time a corner was cleared to just inside the box for Suarez to hit a scorching volley across Szczesny.
Juan Manuel Iturbe was introduced, as Nainggolan was one booking away from a ban and was protected for the decisive BATE Borisov game. Roma will qualify if they win that match or draw and Bayer Leverkusen don’t beat Barcelona.
Szczesny palmed a Neymar effort out from under the bar and Iago Falque forced a tough save after an impressive give-and-go that had sent him clear on goal.
However, moments later Barcelona extended their advantage with a fourth goal. Neymar and Suarez combined for Messi to spring the offside trap and he rolled across for Gerard Pique to tap in.
The Giallorossi visibly gave up and the Blaugrana made it 5-0, as Szczesny did what he could on Messi’s shot after Neymar and Suarez passes, but couldn’t keep out the rebound.
Messi was booked for tripping Juan Manuel Iturbe on the very edge of the box, but Pjanic hit the free kick into the wall. Neymar’s solo effort whistled inches past the far post and he had the chance to get on the scoresheet when he was tripped by Salih Ucan with practically the Turkish midfielder’s first touch. Szczesny parried Neymar’s penalty, but Adriano blasted the rebound under the bar.
Szczesny denied Messi a seventh, as the offside trap tactic failed again and again. Roma had the chance to at least get a consolation goal when Thomas Vermaelen hauled down Edin Dzeko, but the Bosnian’s meek penalty was saved by Ter Stegen.
Dzeko did get his name on the scoresheet with the last kick of the game, his looping header steering a Digne cross into the far top corner.
It's a one-off result, but the fact remains Roma have kept one clean sheet in their last 15 competitive games. This season in all competition they conceded 31 goals in 18 matches.
Barcelona 6-1 Roma
Scorers: Suarez 15, 45 (B), Messi 18, 60 (B), Pique 56 (B), Adriano 77 (B), Dzeko 91 (R)
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Dani Alves, Piquè (Bartra 56), Vermaelen, Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Busquets (Samper 46), Sergi Roberto (Adriano 64); Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Roma: Szczesny; Maicon, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; Pjanic (Ucan 75), Keita, Nainggolan (Iturbe 46); Florenzi (Vainqueur 58), Dzeko, Iago Falque
Ref: Cakir (TUR)
Saved penalty: Neymar 77 (B), Dzeko 82 (R)