Roma 1-1 Barcelona: Alessandro Florenzi cancels out Luis Suarez's opener with long-range screamer as holders are held

Roma 1-1 Barcelona: Alessandro Florenzi cancels out Luis Suarez's opener with long-range screamer as holders are held

Alessandro Florenzi scored an incredible goal from more than 60 yards as Roma held defending champions Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in Group E of the Champions League.

There was also some questionable conduct from Luis Suarez in an entertaining match at the Stadio Olimpico.

After an opening goal from Suarez, Florenzi's equaliser came just after the half-hour mark.

Roma midfielder Alessandro Florenzi stretches his arms out wide as he celebrates his superb 31st-minute equaliser against Barcelona

Florenzi (right) looks shocked after beating Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen from long range, while Daniele De Rossi celebrates

Florenzi (right) looks shocked after beating Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen from long range, while Daniele De Rossi celebrates

Two strides after dribbling past the centre line on the right flank, Florenzi saw goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen far out of his goal and launched a shot over the German's head that went in off the post.

Suarez, who gained notoriety for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at last year's World Cup, later appeared to kick Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the chest after being denied by the Poland international.

It's not the first time Ter Stegen has conceded a goal while out of position this season.

It also happened in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Bilbao, when Mikel San Jose lobbed Ter Stegen's long clearance back over the goalkeeper's head with a shot from inside the centre circle.

In the other Group E match, Bayer Leverkusen beat BATE Borisov 4-1.

Barcelona won four of six away games in last season's competition, going on to beat Juventus in the final. But defeating Italian clubs on the road has been a different story.

Barcelona has won just one of their last seven matches in Italy - 3-2 at AC Milan in the 2011-12 group stage. Their overall record from 20 away matches against Serie A sides is six wins, eight draws and six losses.

Roma, meanwhile, appeared to be vastly improved from last season when they were beaten 7-1 at home by Bayern Munich. The Giallorossi already beat four-time defending champion Juventus 2-1 in Serie A. With an impressive array of new players in Edin Dzeko, Iago Falque, Mohamed Salah and Szczesny, Rudi Garcia's club now looks for real in Europe, too.

Still, it was a nervous start for Roma as Messi made his presence known immediately with a warning shot four minutes in that went a whisker over the bar.


Roma showed composure as Dzeko evaded two defenders near midfield and dribbled all the way into Barca's area before coughing the ball up directly to a defender.

Suarez may have had a case for a penalty when Szczesny made contact with the centre forward in the 24th minute, but the referee ruled to play on.

With the sold out crowd coming to life after Florenzi's goal, Roma was more energised and just before half-time Salah raced on to a long ball and beat two defenders, but shot off mark.

Messi, Suarez and Neymar each produced chances for Barcelona in the second half, and an inspired Florenzi missed a good opportunity in the 76th.

Messi's shot off the bar came two minutes later, with an expert volley after the ball bounced off the thigh of defender Antonio Rudiger.

De Sanctis did the rest, saving a dangerous effort from Sergi Roberto in added time, seconds after Kostas Manolas headed away danger.

Enrique criticised Radja Nainggolan after the match following what he described as an 'ugly injury' to Rafinha. 

The Brazilian midfielder was forced off within just three minutes of replacing Rakitic after a poor challenge by Nainggolan. 


Rafinha had to be wheeled off on a medical buggy after his cameo appearance came to an abrupt end.

Suarez headed the ball into Wojciech Szczesny's net after getting on to the end of a cross by Barcelona team-mate Ivan Rakitic 

Arsenal loanee Szczesny walks off the pitch after sustaining an injury, Italian goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis took his place

Belgium international Nainggolan, who was cautioned, appeared to go through the back of Rafinha despite claiming he got the ball 

Barcelona and Roma are in second and third spot respectively after Group E rivals Bayer Leverkusen beat BATE Borisov 4-1