Florenzi wonder goal earns Roma draw with Barcelona

Florenzi wonder goal earns Roma draw with Barcelona

Champions League, Stadio Olimpico - Roma 1 (Florenzi 31) Barcelona 1 (Suarez 21)

Alessandro Florenzi's extraordinary 64-yard shot earned Roma a draw with Champions League holders Barcelona.

Barcelona opened the scoring through Luis Suarez, who headed in at the far post after Ivan Rakitic's deflected cross found the unmarked Uruguayan, with the goal standing despite Roma's claims of a foul by Lionel Messi in the build-up.

With Barca on top but some way off their fluid best, Roma hit back in remarkable fashion. Florenzi raced down the right flank and, spotting Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen off his line, unleashed a stunning shot from a wide area just inside Barcelona's half that flew over the German's head and crashed in off the post.

Roma, who lost Wojciech Szczesny to a hand injury early in the second half, could have been awarded a 68th-minute penalty when Edin Dzeko was hauled to the ground.

Barcelona survived and threatened to win it themselves late on as Messi went close with a dipping effort on his 100th Champions League appearance. But Roma picked up a point as they seek to reach the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in five seasons.

KEY MOMENTS

5' - CLOSE! Messi goes close! The forward again drops off the Roma defence to collect the ball and out of nothing, lashes a shot just over the bar from the edge of the box. An early warning for Roma.

17' - VITAL BLOCK! De Rossi throws himself at the feet of Messi, who was about to pull the trigger from a few yards out. De Rossi will be relieved as it was he who gave the ball away in the first place.

21' - GOAL! Roma 0-1 Barcelona: Suarez heads in from under the crossbar after Rakitic got to the byline and clipped a cross to Suarez at the far post. Roma complaining that Messi fouled Digne in the build-up to the goal - and they may have a point.

23' - PENALTY? Suarez goes down in the box under a challenge from Szczesny. It was a stupid challenge but, despite Suarez's protests, he had poked the ball out of play and it was not a penalty.

31' - GOAL! Roma 1-1 Barcelona: What a goal! Florenzi, on the run, hits a stupendous shot over Ter Stegen's head from just inside the Barcelona half. One of the great Champions League goals.

42' - CHANCE! Important stop by Ter Stegen low to his left. Falque digs out a cross that is cleared to Nainggolan, whose powerful drive was sneaking into the bottom corner.

49' - INJURY: Szezcesny has picked up an injury after that clash with Suarez and he will have to go off.

68' - PENALTY? Dzeko is manhandled to the ground in the box but nothing is given - and Rudy Garcia is going ballistic on the touchline.

77' - CLOSE! Messi goes as close as anyone with a tremendous dipping effort that doesn't quite dip enough to go under De Sanctis's bar. Great effort though.

MATCHCAST: FULL COMMENTARY & STATS

KEY STATS

This was Lionel Messi's 100th Champions League appearance, becoming the youngest player to achieve the milestone at 28 years and 2 months old.

Roma started the game with players of 10 different nationalities. It equals their own Italian record for most nationalities in a Champions League match.

TALKING POINT

Was Florenzi's goal the best Champions League goal of all time? It's a definite contender! On the run, 64 metres out and against the reigning European champions. It was an extraordinary goal and one that will be played over and over for years to come.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Alessandro Florenzi (Roma) - Would have been a leading candidate even he had not scored one of the goals of the decade. Combative defensively and lively offensively, Florenzi was Roma's standout player in a game that will be remembered for his truly stunning strike that will be a leading contender for the Puskas award this year.

PLAYER RATINGS

Roma: Szczesny 7, Rudiger 8, Digne 7, Manolas 7, Nainggolan 7, Falque 8, De Rossi 8, Keita 6, Florenzi 9, Dzeko 7, Salah 7. SUBS: De Sanctis 8, , Torosidis n/a, Iturbe n/a.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen 5, Pique 7, Alba 7, Mathieu 7, Rakitic 5, Busquets 7, Iniesta 7, Sergi Roberto 6, Suarez 7, Messi 6, Neymar 7. SUBS: , Mascherano n/a, Rafinha n/a