Barcelona coach Luis Enrique makes a return to the club he previously managed when the current European champions visit Italian side Roma in the group stages of the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Catalan club are seeking to make it back-to-back Champions League titles this term, while Roma will be hoping that they can finally build some sort of threat following last season's disappointing campaign.
Roma
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Roma go into their opening clash looking to banish some of the demons from last year's tournament, in which they succumbed to a 7-1 home thrashing at the hands of Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich.
The Italian outfit went on to finish third in their group last season, and they have a tough fight on their hands to even achieve that same finish this time around given the other teams in Group E.
As well as coming up against last year's champions, the Rome club will have to face a developing Bayer Leverkusen side and Belarusian underdogs BATE Borisov, potentially opening them up to some testing fixtures later in the autumn.
Roma do, however, go into the game off the back of some promising early-season form, having picked up wins against Frosinone and reigning Serie A champions Juventus to build from an opening-day draw with Hellas Verona.
Rudi Garcia has made some fairly astute signings over the summer period, following the loan arrivals of Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah, but they have failed to thoroughly strengthen a defence that came unstuck several times in the Champions League last term.
Given the tight nature of Group E, Garcia would arguably be happy with gaining a point against Barcelona at home, with the intention of picking up major points elsewhere in the group.
Recent form: DWW
Barcelona
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Barcelona are looking to rewrite the history books this term with consecutive victories that would mark the Catalan club out as the only team to win the tournament back-to-back in its current format.
Enrique's charges produced a standout story last season when they beat Juventus in the final to claim their fifth overall crown in the European showpiece, building on previous recent wins in 2006, 2009 and 2011.
The Catalan club did so by playing some wonderful attacking football, as well as looking to have tightened up in the necessary areas at the back.
One thing that Azulgrana will be trying to overturn on Wednesday is their relatively poor form on Italian soil, where the club has claimed just one win in their last six games.
Barca have started the new La Liga campaign in a positive fashion and will have plenty of confidence when they make the trip across Europe. The reigning champions have claimed three wins out of three domestically, and come off the back of an impressive comeback win against Atletico Madrid at the weekend.
For Barca coach Enrique, he will be looking to make his mark back at the Stadio Olimpico with a comfortable away victory.
Recent form: WWW
Team News
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Roma go into the game likely to be without midfielder Miralem Pjanic who picked up a knock while on international duty with Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Kevin Strootman remains absent with a long-term knee injury.
Francesco Totti should feature to make his 300th appearance for the club, as may Radja Nainggolan who is battling to make a return to the side at the possible expense of Seydou Keita.
In terms of formation, Salah, Gervinho and Iago Falque will probably be deployed behind lone frontman Dzeko, leaving Nainggolan and Daniele De Rossi to sit a little deeper in midfield.
Gerard Pique, who has been absent with suspension in the league, should start in defence for the visitors, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen could keep his place in goal. Some reports are suggesting that Sergi Roberto may also come into the right-back position to cover Dani Alvez on Wednesday night.
Barca should continue with their infamous front three of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi, allowing Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets to pull the strings behind them.
Roma possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Florenzi, Rudiger, Manolas, Digne; Rossi, Nainggolan; Gervinho, Falque, Salah; Dzeko
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
Head To Head
This pair last met in the Champions League group stages 13 years ago, when they drew 1-1 in Barcelona, before Roma were able to earn a 3-0 win back at home, where Enrique featured on the losing side. One interesting element that could develop on Wednesday is that Totti should stand the chance of making his name as the sole playing survivor from those fixtures back in 2002.
We say: Roma 1-3 Barcelona
Barcelona have won 10 of their last 11 matches in the Champions League and are coming up against a Roma side that are likely to be without key man Pjanic. Barca have scored at least two goals in the majority of their recent Champions League fixtures, and should have more than enough firepower to overcome an Italian side that has failed to win in their last five games in the European showpiece.
Christopher Dodd
