GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Champions League action returns for Roma on Wednesday night, as they face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Round of 16.
The match takes place in Ukraine and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm UK time. Roma enter the game on the back of a three-game winning streak, although truth be told, the team haven't been playing at their most efficient levels. Earlier in the season, Eusebio Di Francesco's team took the Champions League by storm, navigating their way out of one of the toughest groups in first place. The 3-0 win at home to Chelsea was the pinnacle, as the Giallorossi shocked the Premier League champions. Form has fluctuated since then, but with three successive wins now recorded, Roma will go into the game with renewed optimism. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian League has only just returned from a ten-week winter break, so Shakhtar have only played one competitive game in 2018. They showed no signs of rustiness, however, as they defeated Chornomorets 5-0. Facundo Ferreyra and Marlos both got two goals, before Viktor Kovalenko completed the scoring late on. For that game, they opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, just as Roma have done recently. The result ensured they remained in first place in their league, three points ahead of Dynamo Kyiv. In terms of Shakhtar's own Champions League fortunes this season, they have already come up against Italian opposition. In the same group as Napoli, they recorded one win and one loss against the Serie A leaders, ultimately finishing ahead of them in their group. They also beat Manchester City 2-1, so are certainly an opponent to be taken seriously. Roma's 21-man squad for the game is almost at full-strength, with Maxime Gonalons and Rick Karsdorp injured, and Jonathan Silva ineligible. It's an opportunity for Roma to make another good statement in the Champions League. Can they return from Ukraine with an important away goal, or better still, a first leg victory?
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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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