Barcelona took a huge step towards reaching the UEFA Champions League semi finals for the first time since 2015 on Wednesday night, as they secured a 4-1 win over Roma.
Although the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Luis Suarez featured in the Catalan’s starting lineup, La B
So there is 25% of chances to have Barcelona-Real Madrid as Champions League final.
Just imagine the armageddon…
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) April 4, 2018
Despite an early warning from the visitors which almost resulted in Roma crafting a close-range opportunity inside the opening minute, the hosts settled and took the initiative in the opening quarter of an hour, with Suarez seeing his strike ruled out for offside as the Catalonians searched for a foothold in the contest.
And although
Immense game by Rakitic. Culés can deny it as much as they want but Iván The Terrible has improved so much. I’ll be happy when a midfielder arrives who is better and who can replace him but until then I’m glad seeing how he’s giving this kind of performances.
— sj (@sun2jay) April 4, 2018
#BarçaRoma 1-0 HT: Barcelona the better side so far, just. Typical LaLiga-esque showing from the hosts in the opening 45 – a slower pace with a distinct lack of ruthlessness in the final third. Suarez has been uncharacteristically sloppy, but Roma are certainly still in the tie.
— Joe Owens (@jwpowens) April 4, 2018
After the interval, Valverde’s men, as they did in the first half, started slowly, with Diego Perotti gifted a superb opportunity to level things up within just 30 seconds. But the 29-year-old, less than six yards from goal and unmarked, somehow failed to find the target.
And the visitors’ lacklustre offensive prowess came back to haunt them 10 minutes later, as Manolas was this time the man to find his own net after a sublime piece of Barca build up play.
Rakitic and Messi’s slick one-two from a corner eventually found the Croatia international in space inside the area, before the 30-year-old’s dangerous cross was fired towards the feet of Samuel Umtiti.
UMTITI GRABS THE BARÇA BADGE, BEST THING OF THE NIGHT!
— TalkFCB (@FCBNewsRoom) April 4, 2018
The centre back’s initial effort – from no more than four yards – initially hit the woodwork, but fortunately for Barcelona, the rebound found the leg of the Roma defender, whose touch eventually took the deflection past
That is the way things ended, with Barcelona heading to Rome next week with one foot firmly in the Champions League semi final.
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