Florenzi long-range goal gives Roma 1-1 draw with Barcelona

“I think it was a game in which we deserved the win“.

“A win would obviously have been a better result”. We controlled everything, except for one thing which absolutely nobody could do anything about.

Barcelona’s visit to the Stadio Olimpico comes just under a year after Roma lost 7-1 at home to Bayern Munich in the same competition. “I don’t know if Totti or the Pope are more important in Rome, but I can certainly say that for Francesco, the Roma shirt is like a second stint”. Wojciech Szczesny was left unimpressed with the striker’s appeal and cuffed him round the face for his dive. There were just a couple of half-hearted attempts at a one-two which didn’t come off. It wasn’t the Messi we want to see and that is why Barça didn’t come away with a win. We reckon he helps out with household chores and always pets stray cats and is a generally pleasant fellow.

Messi, who needed four to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo as the tournaments top goalscorer in history, looked to try to level his Portuguese counterpart with a goal but failed to do so throughout the entire first half.

Barcelona have confirmed that midfielder Rafinha Alcantara may miss the rest of the season having ruptured a knee ligament in a nasty tackle against Roma on Wednesday.

“Obviously all the players were great because you can not hold Barcelona without all 14 players doing well, including those off the bench”.

“Mohamed’s pace was a threat for Barcelona all night”, added Garcia.

A beautifully-taken effort by Theo Walcott gave the Gunners some hope with a little over 10 minutes remaining, but the home side held on.

Suarez may have had a case for a penalty when Szczesny made contact with the center forward in the 24th, but the referee ruled to play on.

Fans were expecting the worst, until the stupor was broken in spectacular fashion just after the half hour.

Two strides after dribbling past the centre line on the right flank, Florenzi saw goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen far out of his goal and launched a shot over the German’s head that went in off the post.

The 58,800 crowd were stunned, this time positively, but Barca responded immediately, Messi twice going close after a mazy run down the right hand side of the penalty area. Barcelona pick up a point on the road in what may well be their toughest fixture in the group stage, while Roma make a positive start to their attempts to progress to the knockout stage for the first time in five seasons.