GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma and Lazio played out a goalless draw yesterday in the second Derby Della Capitale of the season.
The Giallorossi hit the woodwork on a couple of occasions, with Bruno Peres going close in the first half, and Edin Dzeko just missing towards the end of the game from a header. The latter had a few further chances, with a long-range effort going wide late on. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic created one of Lazio's best chances of the game for Ciro Immobile, who fired wide with the outside of his boot. Adam Marusic also had a good opportunity from close range. In the end though, both teams were forced to settle for a point, as neither could break the deadlock. Here are three talking points from the game. Neither team wanted to lose It was a tense and scrappy affair, with neither keeper having a lot to do. Neither side grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck to really go for the win, despite a handful of decent chances. The race for Champions League qualification is so tight this year that neither team could afford to gift their opponents three points. Whilst this is the game that the fans always want their team to win, it seems that both sets of squads were content with the draw. Manolas injury worry Roma's hero of Tuesday night, Kostas Manolas, pulled up in the second half with what looked like a hamstring injury. The Greek warrior played through the pain for about ten minutes, but ultimately had to be replaced. Eusebio Di Francesco will be hoping his key defensive man isn't sidelined for too long, with a lot of important games coming up. Roma's head-to-head advantage The result means that Roma have the superior head-to-head record against Lazio this season, with one win and one draw. As stated, the battle for the top four is really close this campaign, so it's not unfeasible that both clubs could finish on the same number of points. In this instance, Roma would finish above their rivals thanks to the head-to-head record, which could be the key to securing more Champions League football for next season.
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One of the fiercest derbies in world football takes place tonight, as Roma and Lazio go head to head at Stadio Olimpico.
This particular derby has an added significance, as it will have a major bearing on the race for a top four finish. Both teams have accumulated 60 points this season, as have Inter, who are also competing for Champions League qualification. Tonight, there is more than just bragging rights at stake: neither side can afford to slip up if they want to secure a top four place. The two rivals are coming off widely contrasting results in Europe in midweek; Roma shocked the football world by beating Barcelona 3-0 to reach the Champions League semi finals, whereas Lazio surrendered a 4-2 first leg advantage over RB Salzburg, losing 4-1 to suffer Europa League elimination. Each side has a different motive for success then, with Roma (who are technically the 'away' side for the game) hoping to continue the brilliant form shown on Tuesday, and Lazio looking to bounce back from their European disappointment. Paolo Mazzoleni has been appointed referee for the game. Mazzoleni was the fourth official when the two sides met in the 2013 Coppa Italia final, which Roma lost 1-0. He also officiated the 1-1 draw between the two in Serie A in the same season, when a Francesco Totti penalty cancelled out Hernanes' opener. Roma's squad for the derby does not feature injured duo Diego Perotti and Gregoire Defrel. However, the club's three Roman natives - Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Florenzi and Lorenzo Pellegrini - are all in the squad. So too are younger Romans Luca Pellegrini and Mirko Antonucci. Perhaps one of the local players could have an impact on the game, knowing the full significance of the game to the club's fans. Eusebio Di Francesco could opt to continue with the 3-4-3 that brought his team such success against Barcelona. Cengiz Under and Patrik Schick are said to be competing with each other for a starting spot in the lineup, as part of the attacking trident. The game kicks off at 7:45pm UK time; fans can watch the game on BT Sport 1 from 7:30. One of the most recent additions to Giallorossi Yorkshire has been the Five-a-Side Friday feature, where fans submit their all-time dream Roma five-a-side team.
So far, there has been a total of nine teams, with a wide range of names selected. Some of those have been chosen more regularly than others. Here is a team made up of the most-picked names so far. Alisson Becker - Roma's number one has been in sensational form throughout the season, and as a result has won over his team's fans. He has been chosen in two-thirds of Five-a-Side Friday teams so far, despite only being at the club for two seasons, which shows the great impact he has had in his time in Rome. Cafu - The Brazilian full back has been named in five teams to date, thanks to his skill and professionalism. He won two trophies in his six seasons at Roma, also lifting the World Cup with Brazil during that time. Radja Nainggolan - Three players were tied on two votes for this spot in the team, but Nainggolan is chosen here to provide balance. Another popular member of the current Roma squad, fans love his determination and passion for the shirt. Gabriel Batistuta - Batigol was instrumental in Roma's most recent Scudetto success, and it seems fans think he would be instrumental in their five-a-side teams too. The Argentine was a clinical goalscorer, and having such an important role in that 2001 triumph has endeared him to the Roma fanbase. Francesco Totti - Every single person to have contributed to Five-a-Side Friday so far has chosen Francesco Totti, and it's easy to see why. Roma's all-time leading goalscorer and appearance maker, amongst numerous other records, Totti's longevity in the Roma shirt and supreme technical ability have made him an obvious choice for participants. At some point in the future, the fans that were in attendance for Roma's 3-0 win over Barcelona will look back and think, with fascination, I was there. And I will be one of those people. I couldn't have asked for a better game to attend for my second visit to the Stadio Olimpico. Initially, the draw for the quarter finals didn't appear to favour Roma at all, and I was just glad to have tickets, regardless of the result. But instead of witnessing a defeat, I got to see my team pull off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history - perhaps even the greatest. I made memories that will never fade, memories that are still taking time to sink in. It was an evening of overwhelming positive emotion that I was incredibly lucky to experience. Knowing the game was sold out, I arrived at the Olimpico very early. Time seems to pass really slowly when you're excitedly waiting for something, and it was no different as I queued outside the entrance, waiting to be let into the stadium. Eventually, the gates were opened, and the sensation of matchday was underway. My seat was in the Tribuna Tevere, almost level with the goal nearest the Curva Nord. I had a good view, and was happy to be among fellow Romanisti. One of the things I had been most looking forward to was hearing the club songs, something that I don't get to experience when watching on TV. Thus, when I heard the likes of 'Forza Roma Forza Lupi' and 'Campo Testaccio', I was really happy. Happy also, because that meant kick off was near. When 'Roma Roma Roma' came on the speakers, I held my scarf aloft and sang every word. The atmosphere throughout the whole night was incredible, and this was one of the best examples. But it was over in a flash. It was time for the teams to enter the field of play. Then, as we know, something magical happened. The next couple of hours would be breathtaking, nerve wracking, entertaining - sometimes all at once. Seated where I was, I was in a prime position to see Edin Dzeko's opening goal early on. It was a goal that gave belief to the Roma fans and players alike. The game was well and truly on. Roma continued to dominate Barcelona for the remainder of the first half. Belief started to truly take a hold. We're going to do this. In the 57th minute of the game, time stopped. The referee seemed hesitant to award Roma a penalty as Dzeko was brought down, but in the end he gave it. What an opportunity. I almost couldn't bear to watch, so great were my nerves at the time. But I managed it. I watched as Daniele De Rossi stepped up to make it 2-0. As I looked around - whilst jumping up and down - I could see the belief in the eyes of my fellow Romanisti. My prediction before the game had been that Roma would dominate, but only win the game 2-0, thus losing on aggregate. That would be typical, I thought. So near yet so far. Thankfully, on 82 minutes, Kostas Manolas rendered my prediction incorrect. I'm not quite sure what happened next. I remember Cengiz Under crossing the ball. I remember Manolas heading it into the net for 3-0. I remember rising to my feet and roaring at the top of my voice. That's where it became a bit of a blur. There was an overwhelming release of emotion from the Roma fans, as we realised what that goal meant. The stadium announcer, as usual, shouted the first name of the goalscorer, and I, like the 60,000 or so Romanisti in the stadium with me, yelled 'MANOLAS!' at a volume I didn't know I was capable of. 'MANOLAS!' 'MANOLAS!' 'MANOLAS!' There's no Roma player I prefer to see score; I love watching the Greek defender run off in celebration whenever he scores an unlikely goal. But on Tuesday it never crossed my mind to track his movement as he wheeled off in ecstasy. I was reduced to pure instinct as I revelled in the emotion with all those around me. It was an outpouring of joy. If I thought I'd felt nervous before De Rossi's penalty, it was nothing compared to the last minutes of the game. The tension was immense, knowing that a single Barcelona goal could have undone all the hard work. I willed the ball as far away from Alisson's goal as possible. And then, after what seemed an eternity, it happened. The final whistle blew. Roma were through to the semi finals of the Champions League. It was time to celebrate. I embraced with a fan sat to my left, whom I had never met before. That's the power of football. All around me, fans were on their feet, reduced to pure emotion as they tried to make sense of what they had just witnessed. Somehow, I hadn't lost my voice from shouting Manolas' name, so I raised my scarf once more and joined the chorus of 'Grazie Roma'. A song that perfectly captures the release of emotion after a thrilling win. I soaked it all in, every last drop of the atmosphere. With the players off the pitch and fans leaving the stadium, I slowly made my way for the exits - trying to realise what had just happened. The atmosphere in the streets of Rome was electric as I began the walk across the city back to my hotel. The vibrant sounds of car horns being blared out in celebration, fans shouting 'FORZA ROMA' and cheering couldn't be escaped. The city was exuberant as it recognised the accomplishments of this team.
History was made in the Stadio Olimpico on 10th April. AS Roma recorded one of the greatest results in their existence, executing the perfect performance against one of the most successful clubs in the world. All along the way, they were helped along by their adoring fans, who created a mesmerising atmosphere. Those fans were extremely lucky to have been in that stadium to witness history being made. Being one of them was a privilege beyond measure. It was truly a remarkable journey, and it feels so good to have been a part of it. All that's left to say is: Grazie, Roma. Tomorrow night sees Roma and Fiorentina face each other in Serie A, as the Lupi look to bounce back from the 4-1 Champions League loss to Barcelona in midweek.
Roma will be hoping to consolidate their hold on third place, with Inter and Lazio breathing down their necks in the hunt for the top four. Meanwhile, Fiorentina are ninth in the table, and will be aiming to continue their run of five straight victories as they push for Europa League qualification. They have kept clean sheets in four of those games. Eusebio Di Francesco revealed in his press conference today that Gregoire Defrel will start the game. It will be a big opportunity for the Frenchman to prove himself, given Patrik Schick's recent struggles. Defrel is still without a goal in open play for Roma, but will be hoping to take his chance against La Viola to change that. Cengiz Under is still out, and fellow winger Diego Perotti has joined him on the sidelines. This may open up an opportunity for either Stephan El Shaarawy or Gerson to start on the wing. Coincidentally, the latter scored two goals in the reverse fixture in November (a 4-2 win for Roma). Roma will have to wary of two famous sons in Fiorentina's attack - Giovanni Simeone, son of Diego, is their top scorer this season, and Federico Chiesa, Enrico's child, has also chipped in with six goals from the wing. The duo could cause problems for Roma's defence. The match kicks off at 5pm BST tomorrow. Fans in the UK can watch the game on BT Sport 3 from 5:15. On today's edition of Five-a-Side Friday, Franco Ficetola provides his all-time dream Roma five-a-side team.
Name: Franco Ficetola Location: Rome, Italy Team: Franco Tancredi - The only goalkeeper short enough to fit a five-a-side goal among his top-class colleagues, Tancredi was a unique blend of brain and muscles and, for this reason, he’s the perfect starting point for a calcetto team. Attilio Ferraris - Despite having been through a period in which his physical shape was not up to standard, in his heyday the 1934 World Cup winner was one of Italy’s finest midfielders. Powerful, smart and with a big big heart, Ferraris would be ideal as the first man in front of the goalkeeper, with his great ability in both destroying the opposite game and building up his own team’s from behind. Hidetoshi Nakata - In a 1-1-2 formation, the first Japanese in the history of Roma would serve as the man in the middle, instrumental in linking Ferraris with the two forwards. With his great technique and vision, the Asian player is perfect for a small pitch, and his famous long-distance efforts would surely have no problems in piercing a smaller goal too. Francesco Totti - I guess no participant to ‘Five-a-side Friday’ can avoid writing this name, but let’s try and make it interesting by finding out why Il Capitano would be useful in such a team. His competence in dealing with the ball is known to everybody, plus he’s got a great shot, and he likes to entertain spectators with his skill from time to time. On the other hand, he’s not a high-octane player, an aspect that can be easily overlooked when playing five-a-side. Mirko Vučinić - Vučinić was terribly good at kicking the ball (and scoring goals) with the toe, which would be a good reason in itself to include him in a five-a-side team, but he was also merciless in the front of the goalkeeper, very nimble in the six-yard box and more aggressive than the average centre-forward. All these things, paired with the talent that made him a joy for the eyes to see, explain why the boy from Nikšić should be staple in every team like the one we’re talking about. Roma put in a valiant effort in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final match with Barcelona, but ultimately lost 4-1 - a scoreline that didn't necessarily reflect the game.
Two own goals helped Barcelona on their way to the win, but Roma also had some chances, failing to exploit a sub-par Blaugrana performance. Here are three key moments that had an impact on the game. Perotti's second half miss Roma started both halves brightly, and should have equalised at the beginning of the second. With the score 1-0 to Barcelona, Roma went on the frontfoot early on, with an Alessandro Florenzi cross falling to Diego Perotti at the far post. Perotti, a man not famed for goalscoring prowess, could only head wide in what was a real opportunity to level things up. Had the effort gone in, it would have been a different game. Dzeko's away goal As expected, Edin Dzeko didn't see a great deal of the ball, but when a chance came his way, he scored what looked to be a pivotal goal. Using his strength and intelligence, he controlled the ball before placing it past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to bring Roma back into the game late on. 3-1 looked like a decent enough scoreline to take back to the Olimpico on Tuesday, giving Roma a little hope again. Gonalons' fatal error One man who has not impressed at all for Roma this season is Maxime Gonalons. When he was brought in in the summer, many thought he could take Daniele De Rossi's place in the starting eleven, but the Frenchman has endured a miserable campaign. This was capped off by a mistake late on which led to an agonising fourth Barca goal. In his own box, the midfielder took a touch instead of clearing his lines - showing poor mental preparation as a substitute - which allowed the ball to fall to a grateful Luis Suarez, who duly scored Barcelona's fourth. Dzeko's hard work from minutes earlier was undone in one passage of play, as Gonalons' mistake took Roma back to square one. Final Thoughts A lot of work to do now if Roma are to have any chance of advancing - but we already knew it was going to be difficult. Last night's game showed just how much of a difference the fine margins make in football, and it was Barcelona who benefitted from that, not Roma. Tomorrow night sees Barcelona and Roma face off in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final tie.
Barcelona are the overwhelming favourites for the matchup, boasting some of Europe's best players among their ranks. They are running away with La Liga, nine points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid with eight games left. They have only suffered one defeat all season, in the Copa Del Rey to Espanyol. Familiar faces in their squad are Lucas Digne and Thomas Vermaelen, both of whom spent a year at Roma. Players more likely to have an impact for the hosts are the usual suspects of Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and a certain Lionel Messi. It's unclear what gameplan Eusebio Di Francesco will use for the encounter. Will Roma sit back and go for damage limitation? Or will they take the game to a side who were rocked by Sevilla in their last match? Whatever the method, he will be hoping to avoid a drubbing similar to the last time the sides met at Camp Nou, which saw Barca put six past Rudi Garcia's Roma. The roles at either end of the pitch, of Alisson Becker and Edin Dzeko, will be pivotal to Roma's hopes of staging an unlikely upset. The latter may not see as much of the ball as usual, but will have to work hard and stay alert so he can make the most of any chances that come his way. Radja Nainggolan is available for selection despite coming off injured in Roma's draw with Bologna at the weekend. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who was absent for that game, has also returned to the squad. However, Cengiz Under has not travelled. Roma will have to put in a huge performance to try and get something out of the game. If they can leave Camp Nou with something to take back to Rome, even if they find themselves just one or two goals behind, it will set up an exciting second leg at the Olimpico next week. Tomorrow, they must make sure they do not fall at the first hurdle. On Wednesday night, Roma will face their biggest challenge of the season: Barcelona away.
The Champions League quarter final draw pitted Roma against the La Liga leaders, and was immediately met with pessimism from Giallorossi fans. Understandably so; Roma are massive underdogs for the game, with many fearing they will be no match for the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta. Overcoming the Catalan club will be a tall order, and even the most positive Roma fan would struggle to see how their side could advance. But there is one thing Roma do have in their favour. Alisson Becker. There has been arguably no better goalkeeper in world football in 2017-18 than Alisson. He has been extraordinary between the posts for Roma, regularly keeping out shots that would beat 99% of keepers. He has been an imposing presence in goal, and has often seemed impenetrable. In total, he has kept 17 clean sheets in all competitions this season. That's nearly half the games he's played. Indeed, it is largely thanks to Alisson that Roma have even reached this stage of the competition. Had he not been in such good form at home to Atletico Madrid in the group stages, Roma would likely have lost that game - which would ultimately have put Atletico through at Roma's expense. But thanks to Alisson's heroics, a 0-0 draw was secured, and Roma went on to win Group C. He made nine saves in that game, pivotal moments that kept the dream alive for Eusebio Di Francesco's side. Now, he looks to be Roma's best chance of securing an unlikely upset against another strong La Liga outfit. Barcelona will be very dangerous in attack, and will create a lot of chances. As soon as Roma's defence is bypassed, it will again be down to Alisson to keep his side in the game. He will have to thwart Barca's clinical attackers by using every ounce of his ability. It's a lot of pressure riding on one man's shoulders, but if any goalkeeper can do it, it's Alisson Becker. Across the two legs, it's almost certain that Barcelona will create more chances than Roma. They'll have more possession and they'll have more shots on goal. But if Alisson performs to the levels that have elevated him to the top of the goalkeeping world, he might just be able to give Roma a chance. And if he does so, then you never know what could happen... |
samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
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