AS Roma v Barcelona: Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco hopes for a miracle at Stadio Olympico
Roma were beaten 2-0 by seventh placed Fiorentina on Saturday in the Italian Serie-A and the defeat leaves them 21 points behind currently Serie-A league leaders Juventus and sit third on the log.
The team from the city of Rome, AS Roma are to host visiting Barcelona in the second leg tie of the Uefa Champions League with the Spanish giants going into the game with a 4-1 aggregate advantage.
Roma lost at Camp Nou last week Wednesday to Barcelona conceding two own goals and making the return leg tie an uphill task for them.
Roma manager Eusebio di Francesco says his side faces “a machine” in Barcelona but is of the opinion that they can pull off an upset and have a surprise comeback in the Champions League.
Francesco said: “Why not believe until the end and hope we can achieve something unprecedented?
“It’s a really tough task, but we have the duty to try.”
“We are up against a machine,” Di Francesco added.
“We must play with passion, heart and belief right up until the final whistle if we want to do the unthinkable.”
Their rival tonight, Barca on the other hand equaled the La Liga record of 38 games unbeaten as they defeated Leganes 3-1 with Lionel Messi netting a hat-trick. Barca are 11 points clear at the top of the table.
Despite Barcelona’s superb form in the domestic scene this season, and their three-goal advantage as they visit Stadio Olympico for the second leg tie of the Champions League, Barca manager Ernesto Valverde insist his side are not already thinking of a place in the last four.
“We can’t take it for granted. We have to play like it 0-0 because anything can happen,” said Valverde.
“They are going to go for it. We saw in the first leg they have good players and we have prepared for them.”
Barca have several players who are unavailable for the match. Forward Philippe Coutinho is not eligible to play having played for Liverpool in the same competition.
Barca left back Lucas Digne has a hamstring injury while midfielder Sergio Busquets could be available to file out for the Catalan giants after he returned from a broken foot injury.
AS Roma will be glad to have midfielder Radja Nainggolan return and forward Cengiz Under who were both out injured. Midfielder Diego Perotti is still sidelined with a calf problem.
Champions League quarterfinal second leg: Roma v Barcelona
Venue: Stadio Olympico, Rome.
Time & Date: Tuesday 10 April 19:45 BST.
source: www.dabbsports.com