James Palotta: 'Roma can beat Barcelona'

Roma president James Pallotta has insisted that his team stand a chance of overcoming Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Barcelona are seen as the overwhelming favourites to progress from the two-legged affair, and the Spanish outfit will look to secure an advantage when the pair meet at Camp Nou for the first leg next week.

While the Catalan giants have won the Champions League in four of the last 15 seasons, Roma are yet to taste success at this level of football.

Palotta, however, has played down suggestions that his team are the underdogs for the last-eight affair.

"I think it was a good draw. People tell me it's a bit like David against Goliath, but I don't agree: we can play against anyone. My players have nothing less than the Catalan ones," Pallotta told reporters.

"If I think with my head, I say it's hard, but if I do it with my heart, I think we've got a chance of success."

Roma beat Shakhtar Donetsk on away goals to progress to this stage of the competition.