ROME – An outrageous goal from Alessandro Florenzi helped AS Roma to a 1-1 draw against defending champions Barcelona, in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night. The Italian fullback received the ball in his own half before driving an effort over Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen from all of 60 yards.

 "When I saw it went in, I honestly didn't know how to celebrate,” Florenzi told UEFA.com. "I put my hands on my face because I knew that I had scored a goal that I will never forget. It was instinct, craziness and a bit of heart that allowed me to score this beautiful goal.”

 Thousands of fans around the Stadio Olimpico shared the young defender’s disbelief and continued their standing ovation for several minutes following the special goal. Florenzi’s strike drew Roma level on the night after Luis Suarez had put the visitors ahead with a fortuitous header earlier in the first half.

 Barcelona continued to press in the second half, unsurprisingly enjoying 74% of possession, however struggled to break down the resolute Roma defence. The closest the visitors came to regaining the lead was when Lionel Messi, on his 100^th Champions League appearance for the Catalan club, rifled an effort off the crossbar on the 78-minute mark.

 The contest marked a return to the Stadio Olimpico for Luis Enrique, the now treble-winning Barcelona boss, who managed Roma during the 2011-12 league campaign.

"We had the game under control and I believe a different result to this would have been fairer," said Enrique after the final whistle. "I think we played well. We did everything we could to win the game, but Roma were more effective. They did very well in defence and took their 'non-chance' to snatch an equaliser."

 Elsewhere in the competition, Juventus bounced back from a miserable start to the Serie A season, which has seen the team pick up just one point from their opening three games, by beating Manchester City 2-1 away from home.

 New signing Mario Mandzukic equalised for the Bianconeri after a Chiellini own goal had put City ahead, before Alvaro Morata scored the winner with a sublime effort on 81 minutes.

 The defeat against Juventus only adds to Manchester City’s European woes, as questions abound about how a team can enjoy so much success domestically, yet struggle year in, year out, in the Champions League. By contrast, despite losing such important players as Carlos Tevez and midfield generals Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, Allegri’s Juventus have once again shown, that you must underestimate them at your peril.