European Champions League

Roma 1 – Barcelona 1

Roma: Sczesny (De Sanctis 50’); Rudiger, Florenzi (Torosidis 85’), Manolas, Digne; De Rossi, Nainggolan, Keita; Salah, Dzeko, Iago Falqué (Iturbe 81’). 4-3-3.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Mathieu, Jordi Alba; Rakitic (Rafinha 61‘, Mascherano 65’), Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar. 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 21. Luis Suárez. Header from close up after Rakitic crossed in from right.
1-1. 31. Florenzi. Shot from wide out on half-way line over keeper and off post.

Defending champions Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw at Roma in their opening Champions League match, not what they were expecting, but still a good result away from home against probably the strongest opponent in their group. Messi and Luis Suárez tried their luck early on, and with just over twenty minutes gone Suárez got on the end of a Rakitic cross to head the opener from close to goal. The Uruguayan striker felt he should have had a penalty soon afterwards when Sczesny brought him down in the area, but a couple of minutes later Florenzi equalized for the Italians with a shot from just over the half way line and wide out on the right, the ball flying over the head of Ter Stegen and in to the net off the far post. Barça had most of the play after that, Messi in particular hitting the bar, Iniesta bringing a good save out of substitute keeper De Sanctis and Jordi Alba seeing his effort cleared off the line in the last minute, but the Italians also had their chances, with Stegen having to save from Nainggolan and Dzeko, and Iago Falque shooting just wide. The worst news for Luis Enrique though was a serious knee injury to Rafinha, who was stretchered off following a reckless tackle by Nainggolan just a couple of minutes after coming on as substitut, and he is likely to be out for several months.