Neymar and Barcelona team-mates touch down in Italy ahead of Champions League Group E opener against Roma

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Barcelona face Roma in their opening Champions League match of 2015-16
The players arrived in Italy on Tuesday morning to begin preparations
Neymar posed for a picture on the plane wearing sunglasses and gold hat
Barcelona beat Juventus 3-1 to win last season's Champions League

Published: 06:31 EST, 15 September 2015 | Updated: 09:42 EST, 15 September 2015

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Neymar and his Barcelona team-mates have touched down in Rome ahead of the first match of their Champions League title defence on Wednesday night.

The Brazil superstar, who is expected to start against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, posed for a picture on the plane, wearing a pair of sunglasses and a black-and-gold cap.

He and his team-mates beat Juventus in last season's final to record their fourth Champions League victory, and they landed in Italy on Tuesday morning ahead of their next match in Europe's premier competition.

Barcelona and Brazil forward Neymar fires a pose at the camera on board the plane to Rome on Tuesday

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (left) and Andres Iniesta smile for the camera after touching down in the Italian capital

Passengers on board the plane bound for Rome included Barcelona's 20-man squad, as well as several board members and vice-presidents, hoping to see the Nou Camp outfit get off to the perfect start.

The club's official Instagram account posted a snap of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and club captain Andres Iniesta on board a bus in Italy following the flight, and preparations will now begin ahead of the match on Wednesday evening.

Barcelona go into their Champions League match on the back of a slender 1-2 victory away at Atletico Madrid in La Liga, in which Lionel Messi scored the winning goal.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Neymar heaped praise on his team-mate, admitting it was his influence that earned the champions three points.

Barcelona players will sport a new kit for their opening 2015-16 Champions League game in Rome (pictured)

Neymar (right) and Lionel Messi celebrate after the latter scored the winning goal against Atletico Madrid

'I'm happy that I score, but the most important thing was to win the game,' he said.

'It's good that we've won three out of three. We scored early [in the second half] and that was very important. Once Messi came on, he made the difference like always and we won the game.

'With Messi on the pitch, everything doesn't become easy but better.'