Having enjoyed a strong start to the new Serie A campaign, AS Roma will want to prove their worth against Champions League holders as well.

The Catalans did not exactly impress in the opening exchanges and they arrive at Stadio Olimpico looking for a morale-boosting win.

AS Roma did secure the second automatic Champions League berth through league finish last term, but the club chiefs could not be happy with team’s failure to challenge Juventus for the league trophy.

As a result, they decided to make another major squad overhaul and it appears they have got it right this time out.

The best thing about Roma’s summer signings is that almost all of them arrived on loan with an option to buy, meaning the club will not have lost a lot of money even if some of them fail to make the grade.

However, the first signs have been more than positive, with AS Roma taking seven points from first three league fixtures, defeating reigning champions Juventus in the process.

The Giallorossi now aim to do well at the start of their Champions League campaign and they can be backed at 6.00 (5/1) to defeat Barcelona.

Key midfielder Miralem Pjanic has failed to recover from a muscle problem, whereas Kevin Strootman is a long-term casualty and Salih Ucan is doubtful with a bout of flu.

Probable starting line-up (4-1-4-1): Szczesny – Florenzi, Rudiger, Manolas, Digne – De Rossi – Salah, Nainggolan, Keita, Falque – Dzeko.

Barcelona head into the new Champions League campaign hoping to become the first ever team to defend the coveted title, and they stand a decent chance of achieving the feat.

The Catalans have so far won the UEFA Super Cup but lost the Spanish Super Cup, while recording three narrow wins at the start of the La Liga campaign.

Barcelona failed to impress in matches against Athletic Bilbao, Malaga and Atletico Madrid, but coach Luis Enrique will, nonetheless, be delighted with three successive wins.

The Catalans probably wouldn’t mind grinding out another victory at Stadio Olimpico and they are 1.67 (2/3) to claim maximum points.

Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen had been earlier ruled out of the game through injury, whereas Dani Alves and Claudio Bravo are sidelined as well.

Gerard Pique returns from domestic ban, with Sergi Roberto tipped to continue at right-back after recovering from injury.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): ter Stegen – Roberto, Mascherano, Pique, Alba – Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta – Messi, Suarez, Neymar.