FC Barcelona v AS Roma: Did you know?

FC Barcelona v AS Roma: Did you know?

A round-up of the key trivia ahead of Tuesday night's clash between the Catalans and Italians

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First Team

23 Nov 15

Roma were at the Camp Nou just four months ago for the 50th edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy. Barça won 3-0 with goals from Neymar Jr, Messi and Rakitic.

Barça have won their last eight Champions League games at the Camp Nou. Their last defeat at home was in the 2012/13 semi-final against Bayern Munich.

Luis Suárez, with three goals, is the top scorer in the competition so far. He’s followed by Neymar and Rakitic with two each.

Roma have scored six goals in their two away games in the group, but have just one point to show for their efforts on the road. They lost 3-2 at BATE Borisov and drew 4-4 with Leverkusen.

Several of the rival players this evening have played together for club or country in the past: Rüdiger and Ter Stegen (Germany); Digne and Mathieu (France); Nainggolan and Vermaelen (Belgium); Palmieri and Neymar (Santos); Keita and Mathieu (Valencia); Keita, Adriano and Alves (al Sevilla), and Szczesny and Vermaelen (Arsenal). And Seydou Keita, of course, was at FC Barcelona for four seasons (2008-2012).

Both sides have players that are one yellow away from a suspension. For Barça, Dani Alves would miss the game with Leverskusen if he is booked tonight, and Roma’s De Rossi and Nainggolan would also miss the last game in the group.

Barça have seven players that have featured in all four of their games so far: Ter Stegen, Mascherano, Rakitic, Sergio, Sergi Roberto, Luis Suárez and Neymar Jr. Roma have nine ever-presents: Szczesny, Digne, Torosidis, Manolas, Nainggolan, Iturbe, De Rossi, Florenzi and Salah.

Tonight’s match referee is Cüneyt Çakir of Turkey. His linesmen, Bahattin Duran, Tarik Ongun, Hüseyin Göçek and Baris Simsek are from the same country, as is the fourth official Mustafa Eyisoy.

Not counting Roma, the last time Barça played an Italian club was in the 2014/15 Champions League Final against Juventus, which they won to secure the second treble in club history.

Before playing Barça, it had been seven years since Roma played a Liga club in the Champions League. That was back in 2007/08, when they knocked Real Madrid out in the round of sixteen by an aggregate score of 4-2.

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