AS ROMA NEWS – Murphy’s law came down on Roma at the San Mamès, in a match that was already complicated enough without the need for bad luck, Turpin’s severity and the mistake of a consummate champion like Hummels to destroy the Giallorossi’s dreams of glory. Athletic took advantage and made the comeback, winning 3 to 1 and snatching the pass to the quarterfinals, where awaiting them will be Glasgow Rangers.
It is very difficult to comment on the performance of Ranieri’s boys: the match was conditioned, but it can also be said to have been decided, by the episode that came after about ten minutes. Hummels does what perhaps he has never done in his career: he misses an elementary pass, throwing Sannadi into the open field. The German, who does not have speed three his best gifts, attempts a desperate slide recovery, however, hitting his opponent’s legs. Turpin underestimated the distance of the Basque striker from the Giallorossi area, however, considering it as a last man foul to interrupt a clear goal opportunity. A very severe and inelastic decision by the French whistle, because it comes early in the game. There remains the double mistake by Hummels, who would have done better to let Sannadi, a striker who showed little confidence with the net, go. Numerical inferiority after just 12 minutes is a kind of early doom for Roma.
The Giallorossi tried to hold on, even playing a good first half and managing to hold their own against the Basques despite the difficulties, but the night seemed cursed: at the last second of recovery Nico Williams found the net after Ndicka misplaced a header from the goal and Angelino deflected the Spanish striker’s conclusion, making it impossible for Svilar to oppose that shot. Being able to go to nil-nil at halftime would perhaps have created more anxiety and put more pressure on the Basques, that goal in the interval instead gives Athletic the right enthusiasm and conviction. For Roma, on the other hand, it is perhaps the decisive blow.
In the second half, the tactical theme of the match does not change: Bilbao pushes in search of the qualifying goal, Roma can do nothing but defend hoping for the episode able to overturn the inertia of the match. Yuri Berchiche’s goal on a loose ball cut the legs off the Giallorossi, who also cashed in on a third goal from an inspired Nico Williams. Paredes’ penalty in the salvage only rekindled hopes of a resounding comeback for a few seconds, but it was too late.
Roma says goodbye to the Europa League after a crooked night. The team can be blamed little given the commitment put on the field in the face of so many difficulties. A few more perplexities about some of Ranieri’s changes, who surprisingly decides to keep Manu Konè out of the starting lineup but also out of the rotations in the running game. An odd choice that leaves the suspicion that there is more to it than just technical motivations. In addition to Hummels, disappointing Artem Dovbyk, who after winning the ballot with Shomurodov took the field with that softness and little incisiveness that have often put him at the center of criticism from fans and insiders. Now Roma must quickly forget this drubbing and focus on the league: the chase for Europe is the goal of this final season. Every match will have to be approached as a final. Starting with Roma-Cagliari on Sunday, a challenge that for a thousand reasons promises to be particularly tough.
Giallorossi.net – Andrea Fiorini
The article THAT HURTS comes from Giallorossi.net, exclusive news, news and soccer market.
