Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will get a chance to equal arch rival, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal tally in the UEFA Clampions League when his team meet AS Roma in the Stadio Olympico in Rome today.
Messi who just won the UEFA Player of the Year Award ahead of Ronaldo is three UCL goals behind the Portuguese star.
Ronaldo on Tuesday scored a hat-trick, including two penalties, against 10-man Shaktar Donetsk, to take his goal tally to 80 in the competition.
He is also the highest penalty scorer in the history of the competition with 11 penalties converted, one ahead of fellow former Portugal and Real Madrid star Luis Figo, and three ahead of Messi who is on 8.
Barcelona will be hoping to defend the title they won against Juventus in May, by kicking off their Group E starter against another Italian side, AS Roma on a sound footing.