European champions Barcelona saw their perfect start to the season ended after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in Wednesday's Champions League Group E opener.
Luis Suarez gave Barca a 21st-minute lead but Roma equalised eight minutes later with a wonder goal from Alessandro Florenzi. The defender drilled a right-footed shot from just over the halfway line and the ball cannoned into the back of the net off a post.
Barca had plenty of chances to move back in front and were unlucky not to do so in the 78th minute when Lionel Messi, making his 100th Champions League appearance, saw his left-footed shot from the right side of the area hit the crossbar. Roma managed to hold on for a point to deny their former coach Luis Enrique a perfect start to the competition.
Barca started brightly and sent an early warning when Messi got past his marker and drilled a left-footed effort over the bar. A long spell of possession from the visitors ended with a Messi shot that went over the bar.
In the 18th minute, Daniele De Rossi made a vital block from Messi's goal-bound attempt as Barca got closer. But three minutes later and the visitors moved in front. Suarez headed home Ivan Rakitic's cross towards the far post to beat Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Barca demanded a penalty in the 24th minute when Suarez went down in the area following contact from Szczesny. However, the referee waved play on. Roma pulled level, however, thanks to a brilliant long-range effort from Florenzi that gave visiting goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen no chance.
Barca reacted well and began to exert control as Messi saw several long-range attempts go over the bar. The Argentinian continued to terrorise the Roma defence and in the 38th minute, Messi got past his marker and struck a low shot from 12 yards that was only just kept out by Szczesny.
Roma's hopes looked to be dwindling when Rudi Garcia was forced to make his first substitution six minutes after the break, with Szczensy forced off and Morgan De Sanctis replacing him.
Barca surged forward and in the 76th minute Neymar came close to scoring but saw his goal-bound shot from the heart of the area blocked by Roma defender Kostas Manolas. Two minutes later and Roma had fortune on their side when Messi hit the bar with De Sanctis beaten, but the former Napoli custodian was at his best to repel Andres Iniesta's close-range shot.
With seconds remaining, Jordi Alba fed Neymar in the box and his effort was blocked by Manolas as Roma held on for a valuable point.
