GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
As Roma's Europa League campaign gets underway, there is a general sense of optimism that the club will take the competition seriously and be among the contenders for the trophy.
Paulo Fonseca has already confirmed that Roma have "big ambitions" for the competition, with the coach having previously reached the quarter-finals with Braga in 2015-16, before being knocked out by his next club, Shakhtar Donetsk. Over the summer, Roma assembled an experienced squad, with the lineup now featuring several players who have good history in European competition. Here is a brief look at the furthest stage each player has reached in both the Champions League and Europa League. Davide Zappacosta Champions League best: Round of 16 (Chelsea, 2017-18) Europa League best: Winner (Chelsea, 2018-19) The first of five former Europa League winners in Roma's squad, Zappacosta got his hands on the trophy at the first time of asking last season. The previous year, he had seen his new Chelsea side qualify behind Roma in their Champions League group before being eliminate in the Round of 16. Having never competed in Europe before leaving Italy to join Chelsea, he now has the opportunity to make his mark with a club from his homeland.
Bryan Cristante Champions League best: Quarter-final (Milan, 2011-12) Europa League best: Round of 32 (Atalanta, 2017-18) The Champions League gave Cristante his professional debut as a 16-year-old, with the midfielder featuring for Milan in a group match. The Rossoneri reached the quarter-finals that year, but he played no further part. He was more involved when Atalanta reached the Europa League Round of 32 in his final season in Bergamo, scoring three goals as he played in all of their eight games in the competition. Only Josip Ilicic scored more for them in Europe that year. Juan Jesus Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Round of 16 (Inter, 2012-13; Roma, 2014-15 and 2016-17) One of several players to follow on this list whose best European run came with Roma, Jesus was a starter in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final loss to Liverpool. It was the Europa League that gave him his first taste of European football, though, when he reached the Round of 16 in his first full season with Inter - a feat he has repeated twice with Roma since. Chris Smalling Champions League best: Runner up (Manchester United, 2010-11) Europa League best: Winner (Manchester United, 2016-17) An unused sub in both games when his Fulham side faced Roma in the 2009-10 group stage on their route to the Europa League final, Smalling went one better by winning the competition with Manchester United in 2017, playing all 90 minutes of the final. At the start of his United career, he had even come close to winning the Champions League, watching from the bench as his side lost to Barcelona at the end of his first season there. He had played nine games on their journey to the final.
Lorenzo Pellegrini Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Group stage (Sassuolo, 2016-17) Pellegrini was a member of the squad that got Roma further than ever before in the Champions League era, starting the second leg of the semi-final against Liverpool in which his side came within a whisker of another extraordinary comeback. Preparing him for that adventure, and his time at Roma as a whole, had been a two-year stint at Sassuolo, where he helped Eusebio Di Francesco's side qualify for Europe for the first time, before they were knocked out in the group stage. Diego Perotti Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Winner (Sevilla, 2013-14) Brought to Europe by future Roma sporting director Monchi in 2007, Perotti worked his way through the ranks at Sevilla, with his time with the La Liga club culminating in victory in the Europa League in his last year with the club - although at the time, he was out on loan at Boca Juniors. It was the first of three consecutive triumphs in the competition for Sevilla, but Perotti wasn't able to play in Europe again until joining Roma in 2015. He scored in the first leg Champions League semi-final defeat to Liverpool, giving some late hope of a Stadio Olimpico comeback. Edin Dzeko Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Quarter-final (Wolfsburg, 2009-10) For someone who spent four-and-a-half years with high-spending Premier League giants Manchester City, it may come as something of a surprise to learn that neither of Dzeko's best runs in each of Europe's two competitions came while at the Etihad Stadium. Instead, it was as part of a successful Wolfsburg side that he reached the Europa League quarter-finals, having dropped down from the Champions League the year after winning the German title. Nearly a decade later, he was the only Roma player to score in both legs of the CL semi-final against Liverpool. Aleksandar Kolarov Champions League best: Semi-final (Manchester City, 2015-16; Roma 2017-18) Europa League best: Round of 16 (Manchester City, 2010-11 and 2011-12) Another part of the unfortunate Roma side to lose in the Champions League semi-finals, Kolarov was the only member of that squad for whom the last four wasn't uncharted territory. Man City were edged out by eventual champions Real Madrid in the semi-final in 2016 - certainly a higher calibre opponent than the ones who had curtailed their furthest Europa League era ventures, with Dynamo Kyiv and Sporting CP being responsible for their Round of 16 exits in Kolarov's first two years at the club. Pau Lopez Champions League best: Group stage (Tottenham Hotspur, 2016-17) Europa League best: Round of 32 (Tottenham Hotspur, 2016-17; Real Betis, 2018-19) Despite being Roma's most expensive goalkeeper signing of all-time, Pau Lopez is yet to fully convince in his short time at the club. Unless Fonseca opts to rotate, the Europa League could be where Lopez comes into his own, but he has limited international pedigree. He never played in his sole season at Tottenham, where their European record was poor, meaning his Europa League debut only came last season, with Real Betis. They conceded six goals over two legs as they lost to Rennes, despite having won their group with just two goals conceded. Mert Cetin Champions League best: N/A Europa League best: N/A Roma's least high-profile summer signing, Cetin has never featured in European competition - and is unlikely to change that this year, having been left out of the squad for the group stages. Cengiz Under Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Play-off round (Istanbul Basaksehir, 2016-17) Under has grown into one of Roma's most important players over the last two years, but is yet to feature in the Europa League group stages. His only previous taste of the competition came when Fonseca's Shakhtar beat Istanbul Basaksehir - one of Roma's Group J opponents this season - in the play-off round. He secured his move to Roma the year after, playing his part in the run to the last four of the Champions League in his first taste of the competition. Davide Santon Champions League best: Winner (Inter, 2009-10) Europa League best: Quarter-final (Newcastle United, 2012-13) The only Champions League winner in Roma's squad isn't even a regular starter. Santon made one appearance on Inter's road to the 2010 final, where they beat Bayern Munich 2-0. He returned to Inter in 2015, a couple of years after reaching the Europa League quarter-finals with Newcastle. Nikola Kalinic Champions League best: Round of 16 (Atletico Madrid, 2018-19) Europa League best: Runner up (Dnipro, 2014-15) Roma's new back-up striker won the UEFA Super Cup in 2018 (as an unused sub), but was not part of the Atletico Madrid side that qualified for the event by winning the previous year's Champions League. Instead, his best ever CL run came last season, when Atletico, like Roma, lost in the Last 16 despite winning their first leg match. He has scored in a European final though, giving Dnipro the lead in the 2015 Europa League final, which they weren't able to defend against Sevilla. Federico Fazio Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Winner (Sevilla, 2013-14; 2015-16) Kalinic's Dnipro couldn't topple Sevilla in that game, which was sandwiched between the two Europa League titles that Fazio won with the club. In 2014, he played all of the final as Sevilla beat Benfica on penalties in Turin, while having returned to the club on loan from Tottenham for the latter half of the 2015-16 season, he was not used as the Spaniards beat Liverpool - who exacted their revenge on Fazio at Roma two seasons later in the Champions League semis.
Jordan Veretout Champions League best: N/A Europa League best: Round of 32 (Saint-Ettiene, 2016-17) One of the least experienced members of Roma's squad in terms of international activity, midfielder Veretout has only played in the Europa League once before. His Saint-Ettiene side topped their group after navigating the qualifiers in 2016-17, but were the first knockout victims of Smalling's Man Utd, who beat them 4-0 on aggregate in the Last 32. Nicolo Zaniolo Champions League best: Round of 16 (Roma, 2018-19) Europa League best: N/A Zaniolo's Roma debut actually came in the Champions League, before he had even played in Serie A. The midfielder made the most of his opportunities and became the youngest Italian player to score a CL brace in the Round of 16 first leg against Porto. The return leg did not go to plan, however, as Roma crashed out of the competition. Now, he will have his first chance to play in the secondary competition, the Europa League. Gianluca Mancini Champions League best: N/A Europa League best: Round of 32 (Atalanta, 2017-18) Mancini had the chance to be part of Atalanta's first ever Champions League side this season, and thus to make his debut in the competition, but sacrificed it to move to a bigger club in Roma. Another player upon whom expectations will be high despite a lack of European experience, Mancini did not play in any of the games when Atalanta reached the Round of 32 in his first season there. The year after, he played three times, scoring once, as they lost in the play-off round on penalties to Copenhagen. Alessandro Florenzi Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Round of 16 (Roma, 2014-15 and 2016-17) A loyal player whose only permanent home has been boyhood club Roma, Florenzi will be hoping to captain Roma to success this season. In the past, when serving as a vice-captain behind Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi, he reached the Europa League Round of 16 on two occasions. Roma lost to Fiorentina and Lyon respectively, before he was part of the first post-Totti side, which instantly reached its furthest ever stage in the Champions League era. Javier Pastore Champions League best: Quarter-final (PSG, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16) Europa League best: Group stage (Palermo, 2010-11; PSG, 2011-12) For a player of his pedigree, Pastore's record in Europe makes for rather disappointing reading. The attacking midfielder was part of a PSG side still finding their feet on the continent, as they lost in the quarter-finals in four successive seasons. In the Europa League - which he will be playing in for the first time in eight seasons - he has never made it beyond the group stage, as both Palermo and PSG finished third when he was involved with them. Leonardo Spinazzola Champions League best: Quarter-final (Juventus, 2018-19) Europa League best: Round of 32 (Atalanta, 2017-18) Despite being at Juventus since 2012, a series of loan spells meant Spinazzola's European debut was delayed until 2017, when he helped Atalanta to the Round of 32, playing in six games. His form in Bergamo was rewarded with a Juventus return the next season, but they couldn't beat Dutch giants Ajax in the quarter-finals. He played just one game in the tournament, but will have more opportunities in Europe with Roma. Amadou Diawara Champions League best: Round of 16 (Napoli, 2016-17) Europa League best: Quarter-final (Napoli, 2018-19) One of the players who could benefit from Fonseca's rotation policy in Europe, Diawara's only previous experiences in continental competitions came with Napoli. In his first year there, they reached the Round of 16 of the Champions League, the furthest the club has ever been in the tournament. After coming third in their group in each of the last two seasons, they dropped down to the Europa League, losing to RB Leipzig in the Round of 32 in 2018, and reaching the quarter-finals in 2019, where they were beaten by Henrikh Mkhitaryan's Arsenal without scoring. Mirko Antonucci Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: N/A Only included on Roma's secondary squad list for the group stage, the Italian youngster came on as a last-throw-of-the-dice sub in the second leg against Liverpool in the Champions League two seasons ago. Daniel Fuzato Champions League best: N/A Europa League best: N/A Signed from Palmeiras last summer, Fuzato is yet to make his senior debut for Roma, and has not been included on the squad list for this year's group stages. Henrikh Mkhitaryan Champions League best: Quarter-final (Shakhtar, 2010-11; Borussia Dortmund, 2013-14) Europa League best: Winner (Manchester United, 2016-17) The last Europa League winner on this list, Mkhitaryan started and scored in Man Utd's 2-0 win over Ajax in 2017. After moving to Arsenal, he should have had the chance to play in another final last season, but political tensions between host venue for the final, Azerbaijan, and Mkhitaryan's home country, Armenia, meant he did not travel as his side lost to Chelsea. In the Champions League, he has reached the quarter-finals on two occasions. In 2011, after beating Roma in the Round of 16, Mkhitaryan's Shakhtar lost to Barcelona. Later, the Dortmund side he joined in 2013 had reached the CL final the season before, but weren't able to repeat the feat.
Antonio Mirante Champions League best: Round of 16 (Roma, 2018-19) Europa League best: Group stage (Sampdoria, 2008-09) Veteran keeper Mirante made his Champions League debut with Roma last season, playing once in the group stage versus Viktoria Plzen and then in the first leg of the Round of 16 against Porto. Roma won that leg, but when Robin Olsen returned in his place for the second leg, it was an extra time elimination for the Giallorossi. This year, Mirante may be given the chance to play in the Europa League for the first time in over a decade, having previously kept goal for Sampdoria on three occasions over two seasons in the tournament. Justin Kluivert Champions League best: Round of 16 (Roma, 2018-19) Europa League best: Runner up (Ajax, 2016-17) Kluivert had to watch on as a spectator as his former Ajax side marched to the semi-finals of last season's Champions League, having moved to Roma last summer. He could only reach the Round of 16 with his new side, but it was still better than the qualifying eliminations he had experienced in his previous two seasons with the Dutch side. The first of those led them to the Europa League final, where Kluivert stayed on the bench as Mkhitaryan helped fire Man Utd to the trophy. Now, the duo are teammates, and with both having unfinished business in the competition, they will be hoping to go far with Roma.
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Part three of Giallorossi Yorkshire's season review highlights the 10 best goals Roma scored in 2018-19 - and gives you the chance to have your say in the end of season awards for the first time ever. A shortlist of goals has been selected, with readers able to vote for their favourite in the poll at the bottom. The winner will be revealed as part of the annual Giallorossi Yorkshire end-of-season awards, at the conclusion of this year's season review. So sit back and enjoy looking back at these 10 great goals that lit up an otherwise underwhelming campaign. Edin Dzeko v Torino (19/8/18) In the end, it was one of Dzeko's least productive goalscoring seasons, but it certainly started on the right note. The Bosnian ensured Roma started the season with a win by volleying in - with his weaker left foot - late on against Torino. Javier Pastore v Atalanta (27/8/18) Another player whose season did not match the standards it initially promised, Pastore opened his Roma account two minutes into his home debut with an intelligent backheel against Atalanta. Cengiz Under v Frosinone (26/9/18) The prior season had seen Cengiz develop a reputation for scoring long-range spectaculars, and his first goal of the new campaign saw him pick up from where he left off - a strike made even better by the way he effortlessly dribbled past opponents beforehand. Lorenzo Pellegrini v Lazio (29/9/18) This was actually Pellegrini's first ever Derby Della Capitale appearance, and the boyhood Roma fan made his mark on the game by scoring with a cheeky backheel after getting beyond opposing keeper Thomas Strakosha. Edin Dzeko v CSKA Moscow (23/10/18) In their third match of the Champions League group stage, Roma opened the scoring with an incredible team move. Every outfield player touched the ball in a 29-pass move, which finished with a great combination between Pellegrini and Dzeko. Cengiz Under v CSKA Moscow (23/10/18) Later in the same game, Cengiz wrapped up the win with a well-executed half volley that went right into the top corner. It may have been from closer range than usual, but still required incredible ball control. Stephan El Shaarawy v Sampdoria (11/11/18) El Shaarawy's goals were key for Roma all season, as he scored 11 times - and this was one of his best. Going away from goal, he turned back inside and chipped the ball into the far corner, barely having to look at his target. Nicolo Zaniolo v Sassuolo (26/12/18) It was the day when Zaniolo really announced himself to the world, grabbing his first ever senior goal in quite some fashion. The teenager cut inside from the right, before making the defender sit down and lifting the ball over keeper Andrea Consigli. Nicolo Zaniolo v Torino (19/1/19) Zaniolo carried on the positive momentum in the first league game after the winter break, showing determination and improvisation to open the scoring against Torino. Stephan El Shaarawy v Inter (20/4/19) As someone who made his name at AC Milan, El Shaarawy will have loved scoring against Inter - especially with a goal this good. The winger dribbled forward at pace before picking his moment and sending the ball flying beyond Samir Handanovic. NOW VOTE! Having re-watched all 10 goals, now it's time to pick your favourite. Simply choose your preferred option in the form below.
10th April, 2018 is a date that no Roma fan will ever forget.
It was the date on which the Giallorossi pulled off one of the most miraculous comebacks in the history of the Champions League, as they dominated five-time winners Barcelona to reach the semi-finals for the first time since the competition changed its name from the European Cup. It was the date on which the unthinkable became reality. For a team of Roma's size to overcome one of the biggest clubs in Europe, whose lineup featured two of the very best footballers of all-time in Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, alongside several more stars of the modern game, was beyond even the most optimistic fan's wildest dreams. But there was something about that night that felt like it was destiny for Roma to win. When Edin Dzeko opened the scoring six minutes in, it didn't feel like an ordinary goal. It felt like a platform for Roma to build on. It was the spark they needed to believe in a most unlikely victory. The players ran back to their own half, ready for kick-off. It was clear already that the Lupi weren't there to make up the numbers. Even if everyone had already written them off, they had a game to win, and they weren't going to stop until it was impossible. They proved that night that it wasn't impossible. They approached the game with the right hunger and desire. It was generally accepted that they had been unlucky to lose 4-1 in the first leg. The game had been much closer than that, and conceding two own goals was extremely unfortunate. But nobody could have predicted the way they would go about the return fixture. For once, in the second half, luck was on Roma's side. They were correctly awarded a penalty after Gerard Pique brought down Edin Dzeko in the penalty area underneath the Curva Sud. There was only one man who was going to take the spot kick: the inspirational captain Daniele De Rossi. De Rossi may have been nearer the end of his career than most of his teammates, but that didn't mean he couldn't dream as well. After more than 15 years of service to his beloved club, DDR was more determined than anyone to record another remarkable achievement. As he began his run up for the penalty, his eyes were fixed firmly on the ball. He had the focus of the consummate professional that he was, is, and always has been. He could make no mistake from that spot kick. 2-0 Roma. Eusebio Di Francesco's side had a little over half an hour to get the one more goal they needed to write their names in history. The fans in the Stadio Olimpico had been singing all through the night - they didn't need anyone to tell them it was possible to believe - and their voices were only getting louder, as the chances of completing the comeback became ever-more realistic. With eight minutes remaining, it couldn't have got any more real. Roma won a corner, and Cengiz Under delivered the ball to the near post. Watching the movement of the ball every step of the way was Kostas Manolas, and he timed his run to perfection to get into the space. He had a clear view of the ball, but still had a lot of work to do. Arching his neck, he connected with the ball, sending it across goal. A second later, it dropped into the net. The Stadio exploded.
The buzz around the last 10 minutes was palpable. The crowd were one body, willing Roma on for the final push they needed. At the start of the night, the focus had been on scoring. Now, for the last hurdle, they had to switch their attention to keeping the ball out of their own net.
That they managed to do, and the scenes upon the final whistle were incredible. The squad and coaching staff raced around the pitch in excitement, trying to make sense of the significance of what they had just achieved. They had controlled the game against a side far superior in quality to them, sealing the perfect win and ensuring their European adventure would continue. And the remarkable thing was, they hadn't got lucky. They fully deserved to win in the manner they did. It was an atmosphere like no other. No supporter wanted to leave the venue. This was a magical night and they wanted to live every moment of it, to share it with the players who had done them so proud.
Even outside the stadium, the jubilant atmosphere continued. The city was alive that night. Car horns were blaring in celebration, fans on the streets screaming 'FORZA ROMA' as loud as they could. Flags and scarves were waving out of the windows of people's homes. Everyone was a part of it. It didn't matter if people had met before; everyone was celebrating together that night.
One year on, it still feels dreamlike. There are so many questions that still don't have a clear answer - most beginning with the word 'How'. How did it happen? How was that possible? How wasn't it a dream? But it wasn't a dream. It was all real. It was a monumental event that can never be taken away from this club and its fans. Through the highs and the lows, the memory of that extraordinary April night will live on. As the players who were part of that miracle leave one by one, they will still remain a part of Roma's history, for the scale of what they achieved. Every single one of them will be remembered for the part they played. The story of 10th April, 2018, will live on in the hearts of every Romanista across the world, serving as a reminder of what is possible when the belief is there. That result was colossal, on a level that is unlikely to be matched for a long time. Rome was the centre of the world once again. It's a story of a team who never gave up. A story of a squad who refused to listen to the odds. It's a story of a club whose history has been filled with ups and downs; but that night, they created a positive to outweigh every negative that had gone before. They won a football match that nobody thought they could. But it was far more significant than that. They brought joy to their people, who hadn't felt it for such a long time. That night, they made themselves heroes. After nearly two years in charge of Roma, Eusebio Di Francesco has left his role as the club's head coach.
Di Francesco's tenure will be remembered for a series of highs and lows, some of which were joyful, others frustrating. Here are four each of his biggest successes and failures during his time as Roma manager. Successes Champions League comeback against Barcelona It will go down in history as the most memorable night of Di Francesco's time as Roma coach. When the Giallorossi overturned a three-goal deficit by outplaying the five-time European champions, the football world stood still. All eyes were on Roma as they pulled off a miracle. Di Francesco's role in that triumph cannot be understated. It was he who made a bold decision to switch to a back-three, and it was justified, as several players put in the performances of their lives. He always thrived in an underdog role in previous jobs, and once again, EDF delivered when nobody expected him to. Outplaying Chelsea in the CL group stages Before that quarter-final victory, Roma had been involved in two dramatic group stage matches with Chelsea. The away tie, a 3-3 draw, saw the Lupi play with spirit and determination. Edin Dzeko's emphatic volley was easily the best goal the side scored all season. The home fixture was even better, as Roma dominated in a 3-0 win. Di Francesco's Roma showed they could compete with the best in Europe. Giving Nicolo Zaniolo a key role One of the standout stories this season has been the surprise emergence of Nicolo Zaniolo. The young Italian midfielder was signed from Inter in the summer, and even though Monchi takes the credit for his arrival, Di Francesco should be praised for giving him the platform on which to succeed. Instead of being loaned out as initially planned, Zaniolo stayed at the club, and EDF put faith in him, handing him a debut against Real Madrid, of all sides. Admittedly, Di Francesco has sometimes deployed Zaniolo in positions that won't aid his development, but overall, he should be recognised for his role in allowing the 19-year-old to flourish. Finding Lorenzo Pellegrini's best position Coming into Roma in 2017, Di Francesco was inheriting a squad he had little familiarity with. However, one player who came with him from Sassuolo was Roma youth product Pellegrini. The midfielder showed signs of being a good player in his first year, but was inconsistent. In 2018-19, EDF moved him into a more attacking midfield role, and it has allowed Pellegrini to thrive and contribute to more goals. The Italian midfielder remains adaptable and has filled in in deeper positions still, but his creativity has really come to the fore when he has been deployed as a trequartista. Failures Coppa Italia defeat to Fiorentina This one was really uncomfortable viewing. Roma were outplayed by La Viola as they slumped to a 7-1 loss. Di Francesco's preference for a high back line didn't help, and the players did not appear motivated. It was an awful night for the Giallorossi, and it really began to suggest that EDF was running out of time. First leg semi-final loss to Liverpool After completing the remarkable against Barcelona, expectations were high for Roma's next Champions League game. They were closer to a final than they'd ever been in the UCL era, and while Liverpool were a strong side, it was the best draw Roma could have asked for. Unfortunately, Roma were absolutely annihilated, as the Reds took a five-goal lead. The choice of a back three was this time a poor one, as it gave too much space for Liverpool's pacy front trio to attack. Even though Roma nearly clawed the tie back in the second leg, the decisions during the first fixture made the job far too difficult. Management of Justin Kluivert While EDF did give space to youngsters like Zaniolo and Cengiz Under, some others have been frozen out to an extent. Kluivert was an exciting signing, but has not been given enough space in his debut season. Limited to just eight Serie A starts, the Dutch winger hasn't been able to build on the form he showed with Ajax. Certainly given that Under has been injured for large parts of this season, it's disappointing that EDF didn't call on Kluivert more. Tactical inflexiblity It's perhaps a little harsh to say Di Francesco was completely inflexible tactically. In his second season, he did change to a 4-2-3-1 to change the team's dimensions. However, in his first season, his strict insistence on a 4-3-3 did not help some of the team's strongest players. The shape has proved to be useful for the team on some occasions, but more often than not, EDF was tactically immature, and it meant Roma suffered. Overall thoughts The time was right for Di Francesco to move on, but not without regret. A promising coach and a former Roma player, he had the chance to build something special with the club. He sometimes showed he could be brilliant, but often left fans frustrated as Roma dropped points against smaller clubs. Sometimes those fans were too harsh on him - his job is far from easy, and expectations are often far too high - but there have been enough bad performances recently to suggest that this is the right decision. It's a shame that it didn't work out, but EDF has his flaws, and it's now time for Roma to move on. Roma crashed out of the Champions League last night after a pathetic Giallorossi performance saw Porto advance from their Round of 16 clash after extra time.
Porto were easily the better side on the night, and they matched the 2-1 scoreline from the first leg to take the game to an additional 30 minutes. During that time, a needless penalty given away by Alessandro Florenzi gave the Portuguese side the chance they needed to seal the Lupi's fate, making it 4-3 on aggregate. Coupled with the weekend's loss to Lazio in the Derby Della Capitale, there will surely be a major fallout from this game. Here are the starting talking points. Roma cease to function in De Rossi's absence Once again, Roma proved how reliant they are on 35-year-old captain Daniele De Rossi. The veteran midfielder took charge when Roma were awarded a penalty late in the first half, coolly dispatching it past Iker Casillas. However, soon after, he was limping off injured, and that's where Roma began to fall apart. The Giallorossi lost all their rhythm following the captain's departure, and no-one stepped up to take over his leadership. Consequently, Roma lost structure, belief, and their cool, meaning Porto were always in the driving seat. Roma can only hope the injury to De Rossi isn't too serious, because, even at his age, he's still their most important player. Schick proves he can be a gamechanger One man who has seen a slight upturn in his fortunes recently is Patrik Schick, and the striker made some sort of impact after coming on in extra time. His fellow attacker, Edin Dzeko, had barely had a sniff all game, but following Schick's introduction, the Bosnian started to get a few chances. That was no coincidence. Schick gave him something to work around and link up with. Surely the Czech deserves more time in the first team picture now. Time for a rest, Zaniolo? By the end of extra time, Roma's young prodigy Nicolo Zaniolo looked absolutely exhausted. Yes, he's been in great form recently, but Eusebio Di Francesco has perhaps been putting too much faith in him. Zaniolo is still very young, and his gametime and workload need to be managed. Against Porto, he cut a frustrated figure, in a performance that starkly contrasted his output in the first leg. He was sloppy in possession, gave away cheap fouls - a theme that he needs to remove from his game - and lacked his usual spark. It's not all his fault. He's played too much football recently, and too much football out of position. He needs to be moved back to a central role, and have his workload limited, or else he will burn out before the end of the season. Di Francesco's last legs Going into the game, it was billed as a last chance saloon for Di Francesco. Lose, and he would be sacked. It's not the first time EDF has found himself under pressure, but this time he really didn't get the reaction he needed. After the 7-1 loss to Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia, it looked like he had one game left to save his job. In the following match, against Milan, the team showed enough of a reaction to suggest they were still fighting for him, as they earned a 1-1 draw. Last night, that didn't happen. Roma looked devoid of confidence and belief when they needed it most. The performance typified a side that had run out of ideas. Surely it's now time for a change. It's a make-or-break game for Roma's season tonight, as they look to defend their slender first leg lead over Porto in the Champions League Round of 16.
Roma won the home leg 2-1, but their form since then has been far from convincing, with narrow wins over strugglers Bologna and Frosinone followed by an embarrassing defeat to Lazio. So much so, that several reports suggest that if Roma lose tonight, Eusebio Di Francesco will be relieved of his duties as head coach. However, EDF's Roma have been known to step it up for the European nights, so they will be hoping to build on their first leg advantage to reach the quarter-finals for the second season running. Changes are expected from the team that lost to Lazio, with Antonio Mirante potentially replacing Robin Olsen in goal and centre-back duo Federico Fazio and Juan Jesus expected to be dropped for fit-again Kostas Manolas and ex-Porto man Ivan Marcano. Further upfield, winger Diego Perotti could make just his second start of the calendar year. Roma haven't won an away game in the Champions League knockout stages since beating Real Madrid in 2008, so fate may be against the Giallorossi. However, the form of key players such as Nicolo Zaniolo - who is expected to be fit despite limping off against Lazio - and Lorenzo Pellegrini gives some cause for optimism. The game kicks off at 8pm UK time and will be shown live on BT Sport 3. Roma are set to name more Italians than foreigners in a starting lineup for the first time this season when they take on Porto in the Champions League Round of 16 tonight.
The Giallorossi’s midfield is expected to comprise of Daniele De Rossi, Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini, with Nicolo Zaniolo and Stephan El Shaarawy likely to occupy the wings. Further back, Robin Olsen faces a late fitness test, meaning Antonio Mirante has a chance of keeping his place in goal, while at right-back, a muscle injury to Rick Karsdorp means either Alessandro Florenzi or Davide Santon will come in. Roma reached the knockout stages of the UCL after finishing second in Group G, behind holders Real Madrid. They will be hoping to emulate their achievements in the competition from last season, when they defied all expectations to come within touching distance of a first European final since 1991. It was a major improvement on the previous season’s showing in the Champions League, when they were dumped out in the play-off round by none other than tonight’s opponents, Porto. There have been several personnel changes since then, with only Juan Jesus, Diego Perotti, Edin Dzeko, Kostas Manolas and De Rossi remaining from the starting lineup that lost 3-0 in the second leg. Manolas could return to the lineup for tonight’s clash, after a brief injury lay-off. The other good news for the Giallorossi’s defence is that Porto will be without key strikers Vincent Aboubakar and Moussa Marega , while winger Jesus Corona - who scored the final goal in the last meeting between the two sides - is suspended. Nonetheless, it should be a competitive affair. Roma have never beaten Porto in four previous meetings, and the Portuguese side were on fire in the group stages, only dropping two points. Domestically, they are top of the Primeira Liga, although they have drawn their two most recent matches. Roma’s goalscoring prowess gives them cause for optimism though - the Lupi have reached the last eight of the competition whenever they have scored over 12 goals. Having already netted 11 in Europe this season, Roma will be hoping that the tradition isn’t broken this year. The game gets underway at 8pm UK time and will be shown live on BT Sport 3. Roma put themselves in a very healthy position in Group G of the Champions League on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow. There was room for improvement in the performance, but all in all, it was an important marker, as Roma won away in the competition for the first time since September last year, when they beat Qarabag by the same scoreline. Goal one: Kostas Manolas (1-0) A man who continues to be one of Roma's most influential players, the Greek defender gave his side the lead in the fourth minute. Roma won a corner, which Lorenzo Pellegrini swung in. Manolas rose amid a sea of defenders, heading towards goal. Igor Akinfeev flapped at it, with the ball going over the Russian keeper and into the net. Manolas timed his jump perfectly to get a clean header away. Using an opponent for leverage, he was strong as he rose into the air. He used the side of his forehead to aim the ball at the goal, and although it wasn't his most powerful connection, Akinfeev's mistimed attempt at punching the ball away led to it dropping into the goal. Goal two: Arnor Sigurdsson (1-1) There was also an early goal in the second half, with Arnor Sigurdsson scoring his first CSKA goal. A CSKA player ran down the right wing, driving inside before passing to Sigurdsson. Davide Santon tried to put in a challenge, but he was just off balance, allowing Sigurdsson to break past him. The attacker held off further pressure from the Roma full-back to finish into the far corner, beyond the reach of Robin Olsen. Goal three: Lorenzo Pellegrini (2-1) Roma's winner came in rather fortunate circumstances. Bryan Cristante miscontrolled Aleksandar Kolarov's pass infield, and as the ball popped up in front of him, the midfielder then mistimed his attempt at a volley. However, after a deflection, it landed at the feet of Pellegrini. The Italian's touch took it behind him, but instead of reacting poorly, Pellegrini quickly recovered his footing and slotted home at the nearpost. Having beat the offside trap, Roma's number seven backed himself on his weaker foot, and his confidence played into Roma's hands, securing a result which put them in the driving seat for knockout stage qualification. Roma can take a significant step towards qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win over CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.
In the last matchday, Roma convincingly beat the Russian side 3-0, and if they can overcome them again tomorrow, they will be five points clear of them with two games remaining. That would leave Roma needing just one point from their final two games to reach the Last 16. However, it may not be as comfortable for Roma this time around. The Giallorossi have lost their last five away games in the Champions League, and have often struggled in Eastern Europe. To complicate things further, inspirational CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev will return for the opposition, having missed the return fixture through suspension. Hoping to get the better of him will be Edin Dzeko, who has been fundamental to Roma's efforts on the European stage in recent years. He is the only player to have reached double figures in Champions League goals across 2018. Five of his 10 goals have come in this season's group stage, including a brace last time against CSKA. After a disappointing display against Fiorentina on Saturday, Dzeko will be hoping to return to his best on the stage that suits him most. Justin Kluivert is set to start the game, having not seen a great deal of action since his summer switch from Ajax. The Dutch winger scored against Viktoria Plzen on matchday two, and will be hoping to use this opportunity to make a claim for more playing time. His competitor for the left wing role, Stephan El Shaarawy, has been fairly inconsistent recently, but has weighed in with goals and assists, so Kluivert will be looking to increase his end product. Tomorrow's game kicks off earlier than usual, at 5:55pm UK time, and can be watched on BT Sport/ESPN with coverage starting from 10 minutes before kick off. Expected Roma lineup: Roma shook off the rust on Tuesday night by beating CSKA Moscow 3-0 in the Champions League. It was a bounce back to form for the Giallorossi, following Saturday's embarrassing loss to SPAL. Despite concerns of the threat CSKA could pose - they'd already beaten Real Madrid in the competition this year - Roma looked comfortable from start to finish. Eusebio Di Francesco has now guided Roma to seven consecutive home wins in the Champions League, with last year's 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid the only time they haven't won under him in the competition at Stadio Olimpico. However, the main protagonist on the night was Edin Dzeko, who showed his importance to the side yet again, winning the UEFA Champions League player of the week award in the process. Here's a look back at both his goals, and the one he assisted for Cengiz Under. Goal one: Edin Dzeko (1-0) Roma took the lead in the first half with a goal that was poetry in motion. The Giallorossi completed an amazing 29 passes before Dzeko dispatched the ball in the net. Every single outfield player touched the ball in the build up to the goal. Things really got into gear when Lorenzo Pellegrini found a space on the edge of the attacking third, turning out as he received the ball from Daniele De Rossi. Pellegrini then played a neat one-two with Stephan El Shaarawy, who was lurking in the centre of the box, running beyond the defender to get to the ball first. Pellegrini played the ball across the face of goal first time, with the instinctive Dzeko ready to pounce. The striker had shown more anticipation for the ball than the defenders, who he had brushed past as he got himself into prime scoring position. It left him with a tap in; there was no doubt he would finish it. The goal highlighted a patient but lethal approach from Roma. They didn't force a cross into the box or panic when they ran out of space. Instead, they kept the ball moving, switching the play carefully from the left to the right and vice versa. Pellegrin's willingness to get on the ball was particularly important in crafting the goal, with De Rossi and El Shaarawy also playing a key role in dictating the play. Goal two: Edin Dzeko (2-0) Edin Dzeko lives for the Champions League. After scoring Roma's first ever hat trick in the competition on the last matchday, the Bosnian went close to repeating the feat on Tuesday. This, his 80th goal, saw him overtake Dino Da Costa into 9th place on the club's all-time scoring chart. This time it was Cengiz Under's positivity that created the chance. The winger picked up possession from the influential De Rossi, driving into the space in front of him. As he tried to get in between two defenders, the ball slipped out of his reach, but El Shaarawy was in the right place at the right time and kept up the positive momentum by playing it around the corner for Dzeko, who had peeled away to the right when Under was coming inside. Having found the space, Dzeko then coolly placed the ball across the keeper to double his side's advantage. Goal three: Cengiz Under (3-0) The first goal of the evening took the headlines for the way it was created, but in terms of a pure finish, this was the best strike of the night. Once again, De Rossi was involved at the beginning of the move, feeding the ball across to Alessandro Florenzi, who kept up the impetus by playing a well-weighted ball over the top. Dzeko used his height and strength to beat off the opposing defenders, with Under reacting to the ball as it dropped down from the number nine's header. Shifting his feet across, Under opened his body up and used the inside of his foot to powerfully place the ball in the top left corner. There was nothing the keeper could do as Under showed impeccable control to find the hardest place for him to reach. Highlights from BT Sport YouTube
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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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