It has taken 38 minutes but Juventus have their first real shot in anger in this match. Federico Bernardeschi skips in from the right flank but his well-struck shot is blocked by the defender on the edge of the box.

Miralem Pjanic gets a less than friendly reception from the Roma fans as he heads over to take the corner. He played 185 times for Roma before joining Juventus remember.

Image source, EPA

Barca pushing for the equaliser now and Luis Suarez tries to cut in onto his right foot but ends up losing the ball.

Levante striker Emmanuel Boateng is booked for sticking his hand in the face of Yerry Mina after a rough challenge from the Barcelona defender.

Mina holds his face in his hands despite the fairly minimal contact. This lad could have a long future in Clasicos with acting like that.

Gerard Pique is already in the opposition box from open play. Philippe Coutinho tries a shot from outside the box but it's blocked.

Quinn: HUGE mistake leaving Messi out! Though let's not rule Barcelona out just yet.

Paul: With an unbeaten record at stake why on earth are Barcelona resting Messi?

I'm with both of you, I don't get it. He's not even on the bench to bail them out now.

In Rome the first yellow card goes to Miralem Pjanic for a late challenge against his former club. Juventus' Bosnian midfielder hasn't made the best of starts. His passing has been wayward and now he's booked.

Two-goal Emmanuel Boateng is a 21-year-old Ghanaian, who has yet to win a senior cap. This is his first season in Spanish football.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique's rest lasts less 30 minutes as he replaces Thomas Vermaelen at the back.

Pique had been waiting a couple of minutes to come on. Get the conspiracy theories ready.

More Roma pressure but nothing for Wojciech Szczesny to do in the Juventus goal. Cengiz Under has a go from distance but Daniele Rugani throws his body in the way.

Juve aren't helping themselves here. They keep on giving the ball away in midfield.

What's happened to Barcelona? Jordi Alba plays a terrible low cross which is cut out. This is woeful.

Thomas Vermaelen has gone down injured now.

The other game that could decide if this Serie A title is won today is Sampdoria v Napoli. If Napoli fail to win then the title is Juve's no matter what happens in Rome.

That one is currently 1-1 after 25 minutes.

Barcelona right-back Nelson Semedo runs onto a long ball forward but loses out in a strength battle to Rober Pier in the box.

Rober Pier looks like what a computer game who didn't have the rights would call Robert Pires.

Princekris: Still early in the game and Barcelona are already missing Lionel Messi

Corner to Barcelona, which they're lucky to win as Ousmane Dembele overhit a pass before a home player got a touch, but it comes to nothing. So poor from the champions.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

It's 1-1 on yellow cards now as Macedonia international Enis Bardhi brings down Nelson Semedo.

Luis Suarez plays a cross from the left which is terrible and goalkeeper Oier Olazabal can gobble it up.

As if to prove that last point, Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen goes into the book now for chopping down Emmanuel Boateng.

Metin D Celik: oh come on Barcelona don't lose now! I'm not a fan personally (of Barcelona ) but you don't see teams go whole seasons unbeaten every day.

pista: Valverde clearly not interested in being unbeaten if he's putting Mina & Vermaelen at the back