Champions League
Sep 16, 2015 7.45pm
1
1
HT : 1 1
FT
  • Alessandro Florenzi 31' goal
  • Radja Nainggolan 63' yellowcard
  • goal Luis Suarez 21'
  • yellowcard Gerard Pique 75'

Half-Time Report: Alessandro Florenzi stunner cancels out Luis Suarez goal

Florenzi stunner cancels out Suarez goal

Alessandro Florenzi has scored a spectacular goal to cancel out Luis Suarez's opener in a breathless first half between Roma and Barcelona in the Champions League Group E clash at Stadio Olimpico.

Both sides were unbeaten in their respective domestic leagues coming into the match and perhaps unsurprisingly the contest started at a frantic pace with each team threatening to make the breakthrough almost in turn.

Edin Dzeko should have done better to find Mohamed Salah in space in the Barcelona box before the Catalans raced downfield and came close themselves when Suarez headed Jordi Alba's cross wide of the post.

Barcelona gradually began to take control of the game and after only a superb Daniele de Rossi tackle had prevented Lionel Messi pulling the trigger, Luis Enrique's side took the lead when Ivan Rakitic was afforded too much space to cross for Suarez to head home from close range.

The visitors pressed to add a second and thought that they should have had a penalty when Suarez tangled with Wojciech Szczesny, but Roma levelled in incredible fashion when Florenzi drove the ball over Marc-Andre ter Stegen from the right touchline barely inside Barcelona's half.

Messi impressed on his return to the starting XI and produced a smart stop from Szczesny as his side looked to recover from that bolt from the blue, but only a spectacular save from Ter Stegen prevented Radja Nainggolan's long-range strike giving Roma the lead against the run of play as a frantic half came to an end.

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