Can Roma surprise the visitors? Prediction for the Women's Champions League clash with Barcelona on September 30
Roma
Barcelona
Wednesday evening, September 30, will be a true celebration for fans of European women's football: the central clash of Matchday 2 in the Champions League league phase will get underway at Rome's Tre Fontane Stadium, with Italian side Roma taking on formidable Barcelona. The stature of the fixture and the clubs' ambitions guarantee a fiercely contested battle of the highest quality, as the tournament favorites put the Romans' tactical discipline to the test.
Roma head into the home fixture 12th in the standings with one point after opening their campaign with a goalless draw against Leuven (0-0). The Italians showed solidity in their defensive structure, but clearly lacked cutting edge and a clinical finish in the attacking phase. The main task for the coaching staff's side on home soil will be to maintain compactness between the lines and minimize the space available to the visitors' star-studded attack. Roma will look to operate with a compact mid-block and launch quick attacks down the flanks, while also hoping to make the most of set pieces.
Barcelona launched their European campaign in emphatic fashion, cruising past French side Paris 5-2 on Matchday 1. That triumph lifted the Catalan giants into second place in the league phase with three points and underlined their title ambitions. The Blaugrana play a dominant brand of football built on total possession, relentless high pressing and intricate combination play around the opposition penalty area. Even away in Rome, the Spaniards will not abandon their philosophy, aiming to seize the initiative from the opening minutes and pin the hosts back near their own goal.
The tactical script at the Tre Fontane will revolve around the visitors' relentless pressure. Barcelona will take complete control of possession, looking to unsettle Roma's defensive lines through short passing and the individual quality of their wingers. Roma will respond with fierce defensive discipline and attempts to hurt the favorites on the counterattack. The Catalan club's vast experience and superior quality will be the decisive factor.
Prediction
Barcelona are determined to produce a commanding performance from the start and dominate throughout the match. My prediction: Barcelona -1.5 Asian handicap in the first half at 1.95
