Barcelona will take on Roma in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday evening as they continue their quest to win Europe’s top prize, writes DEAN WORKMAN.

The Catalan side has become one of the perpetual Champions League challengers and will be hoping that Lionel Messi and Co can fire them to their first title since 2015 ― knocking arch-rivals Real Madrid off their perch in the process.

Ernesto Valverde’s team are flying high in La Liga as they look on course to be crowned Spanish Champions, come the end of the campaign, and will be looking to add another Champions League success to their ever-growing list of honours.

The Spanish side qualified top of their group, which included Italian champions Juventus, winning four matches and drawing two along the way. Barca were then drawn against English champions Chelsea in the round of 16. The Blues and Barcelona share a colourful history in the competition and, after the first leg at Stamford Bridge ended in a 1-1 stalemate, Valverde’s team dominated the second encounter. A Messi double fired them to a 3-0 win over Antonio Conte’s men, securing their spot in the quarter-finals.

The Blaugrana were then drawn against Roma in the quarter-finals, where the Italians will be looking to continue their fine Champions League season by upsetting their favoured opponents.

The Giallorossi were pitted against Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Quarabag FK in the group of death. The Italians shocked everyone by finishing top of the group, followed by Chelsea, four points clear of Atletico who finished third.

Eusebio Di Francesco’s side were then drawn against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the round-of-16. Despite losing 2-1 in the first leg in Ukraine, Roma scored the all-important away goal and after winning the second leg 1-0 at home, they progressed to the quarter-finals on away goals with the aggregate score at 2-2.

Roma will certainly be considered underdogs for this fixture with the first leg taking place at the Camp Nou. Di Francesco’s men will be looking for a typical, resolute Italian performance in order to shut out Barca and remain in the tie for the return leg in Rome.

Barcelona vs Roma will battle it out for a semi-final spot in the first leg on Wednesday evening, with kick-off at 8:45pm.