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Expected Starting XI : Barcelona vs Roma

By Chiranjib Ghosh

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Sergio Busquets of Barcelona controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Chelsea FC and FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on February 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Sergio Busquets of Barcelona controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Chelsea FC and FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on February 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona will take on Roma at the Camp Nou

SEVILLA, SPAIN – MARCH 31: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between Sevilla v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on March 31, 2018 in Sevilla Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
SEVILLA, SPAIN – MARCH 31: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between Sevilla v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on March 31, 2018 in Sevilla Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

Barcelona will not go into the match against Roma brimming with confidence, having nearly lost to Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in their last game. Ernesto Valverde will be counting on star power to deliver this time around.

Valverde is also expected to revert to the usual 4-4-2 after experimenting with a 4-2-3-1 against Sevilla, which yielded disastrous results. But there will be a lot more solidarity in midfield, and Andrés Iniesta will be back in position.

Expected Starting XI (4-4-2) :

Goalkeeper : Marc-André ter Stegen

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Right-back : Sergi Roberto

Centre-back (right) : Gerard Piqué

Centre-back (left) : Samuel Umtiti

Left-back : Jordi Alba

Winger (right) : Ousmane Dembélé

Defensive midfielder : Sergio Busquets

Playmaker (central) : Ivan Rakitić

Playmaker (left) : Andrés Iniesta (captain)

Shadow striker : Lionel Messi

Centre forward : Luis Suárez

Of course, Philippe Coutinho cannot be included in the matchday squad due to registration rules in the Champions League. Hence, Andrés Iniesta returns to his position on the left hand side of midfield, while Sergio Busquets returns from injury to replace Paulinho in the first-team.

Ousmane Dembélé remains on the right, while Ivan Rakitić returns to his usual role of a box to box midfielder. Lionel Messi will start against Roma, while Luis Suárez retains his spot in the first-team.

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The defence is expected to be identical to the one which started against Sevilla. But Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Piqué need to step up their game if the side is to prevent Roma from getting an away goal. Also, Sergi Roberto should avoid getting a booking if he wants to play the second leg.