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'

Team News: Lionel Messi back among three Barcelona changes

Messi back among three Barcelona changes

Lionel Messi has been restored to the Barcelona lineup as Luis Enrique's side begin their defence of the Champions League against Roma this evening.

Messi was named only as a substitute for the La Liga win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday after his wife gave birth to his second child, but the Argentine came off the bench to score the winner and has returned to the starting team tonight.

He replaces Rafinha in attack, while Enrique's other alterations both come at centre-back, where Gerard Pique returns after a domestic suspension and Jeremy Mathieu partners him in defence.

Javier Mascherano drops to the bench while Thomas Vermaelen is absent altogether after starting back-to-back league games, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen keeps his place in goal with Claudio Bravo still unavailable.

For Enrique's former side Roma, the only changes to the team which beat Frosinone 2-0 on Saturday are in the form of Radja Nainggolan's return to the heart of midfield and Mohamed Salah being brought back in on the wing.

Gervinho has to make do with a place on the bench alongside Francesco Totti, who is also dropped as he continues to wait for his 300th goal for the club.

Roma: Szczesny; Florenzi, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; De Rossi, Keita, Nainggolan; Salah, Dzeko, Falque Subs: De Sanctis, Maicon, Torosidis, Vainqueur, Gervinho, Iturbe, Totti

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Nemyar, Messi, Suarez Subs: Masip, Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano, Rafinha, Munir, Sandro

Live commentary of the clash can be found here.

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