Three keys to Roma's chances of toppling Barcelona
- Wesley Davidson (@wndavidson2)
Alisson
An obvious choice, the 25-year-old Brazilian has been in the scintillating form for the Giallorossi this season, single-handedly keeping them in many matches. His save success rate has been close to the top in Europe for most of the season and his performances have garnered high interest from the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid. He will need to have another strong performance in terms of shot-stopping and aerial prowess, but his proficiency in distribution could be key to Roma's chances to hit Barca on the counter.
Likely to find himself in isolation, can Dzeko deliver?
After the transfer window fiasco and reportedly being on the brink of joining Chelsea, the Bosnian remains in the Italian captital and is in the top form of late. Goals against Napoli and Shaktar helped secure massive victories, and the striker will need to deliver strong holdup play and runs into the box while staying composed when he finds himself in isolation due to Barcelona's high level of possession.
Mentality
While head coach Eusebio Di Francesco has received plenty of criticism for hia tactics and player selections, the Italian has impressively brought Roma to the quarter-finals in his first season at the helm. After a rough patch during the winter, Roma will be brimming with confidence after sound wins over Napoli and Torino and getting past Shaktar. The collective body language of the players has clearly taken an upward turn, and their mentality will be arguably the most important factor if they are to challenge Barcelona for a spot in the last four.