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Luis Enrique felt Barcelona deserved better in draw with Roma

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique felt his side deserved better after a 1-1 draw at Roma in the first game of their Champions League title defence on Wednesday.




Barcelona coach Luis Enrique felt his side deserved better after a 1-1 draw at Roma in the first game of their Champions League title defence on Wednesday.
A wonder goal by Roma's Alessandro Florenzi cancelled out Luis Suarez's opener and Barca could not find the winner - although Leo Messi came close at the Stadio Olimpico when he struck an effort off the crossbar.
"It has been a great game from us," Luis Enrique said to Italian TV station Mediaset. "I'm satisfied with what I've seen on the pitch.
"Florenzi's goal was fantastic and allowed Roma to get back in the game. We had 70 per cent of possession and plenty of chances to double our lead.
"But Roma are a strong side and football is like this, if you don't score you risk conceding an equaliser."
The result at the Stadio Olimpico ended Barca's perfect start to the new season, with the Catalan giants having won their opening three La Liga games.
Luis Enrique, who coached Roma in the 2011-12 campaign, was surprised by the approach to the game of Rudi Garcia's Roma.
"I expected a more attacking team but instead they chose a different approach and it worked well for them," he said. "They did play a good game."
At the other end, Garcia applauded his players, saying: "It's a huge result for us to draw with Barcelona and it will really boost our confidence. We were tactically smart, we knew that against Barcelona you have to work hard and defend stoically.
"We could have done better in holding possession and being more dangerous on the counter, but I am satisfied. My players responded well and did what we had prepared."
Garcia believes last season's experience in the competition has helped his team to mature. Roma won just one and lost three, including a 7-1 defeat to Bayern Munich, in the group stages last term.
"This team has grown and last year's Champions League experience was important," he said. "We also brought in players like Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah who have already played in this tournament.
"Obviously all the players were great because you cannot hold Barcelona without all 14 players doing well, including those off the bench.
"We got the equaliser with that historic goal from Alessandro Florenzi that will be replayed many, many times."
Florenzi drilled a right-footed shot from just over the halfway line and the ball cannoned into the back of the net off the post to beat Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
"It's not something that happens to you every day," the Italian defender said.
"Watching it back on video, I am getting emotional. I just thought I would give it a go and see what happens.
"We climbed Everest and stopped the strongest team in the world. We fought it out until the end."