“We have a duty to try until it’s all over, and we will,” said AS Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco before their Champions League second leg tie with Barcelona. “It’ll be a miracle, if you want, but why can’t we make it happen?”
Such belief seemed to have been merely lip service after the Giallorossi had been beaten 4-1 in the first leg, and it seemed impossible that the Italians could overcome such an experienced Champions League side. However in truth the scoreline had flattered the Catalan giants on home turf, Roma unlucky in the extreme to have conceded four after a valiant performance.
Supporters in the Italian capital had backed the ambitions of their Coach, filling the Stadio Olimpico and roaring their side on as they began their mission impossible. Di Francesco had opted for a changed 3-4-1-2 formation after defeat to Fiorentina at the weekend, his hopes boosted further by a welcome return to the side for star midfielder Radja Nainggolan.
Perhaps it was the tactical switch that brought about a superb performance, but those in red and yellow undoubtedly gave maximum effort and it was soon to pay off. A beautifully weighted ball from Captain Daniele De Rossi on halfway found striker Edin Dzeko, who made no mistake and fired his side ahead after just six minutes.
Barca offered very little, allowing the home side more chances to score as they used their height advantage to battle hard in the air. Defender Juan Jesus and Dzeko in attack had won three aerial duels each by half-time, as Roma won 80% of balls in the air according to Whoscored.com. Nainggolan was also influential, shooting twice and creating two chances for team-mates in the first 45 minutes.
It was no different after the break, and on 56 minutes Gerard Pique was penalised for pulling Dzeko down in the box after Roma had had another shout for a penalty just a minute before. Just as he had done in the World Cup final in 2006, Giallorossi-stalwart De Rossi converted the spot-kick with ease and it just started to seem like this would be a night for the home side.
“It was just about conceivable if it wasn’t Barcelona,” said the BT Sport commentator after Greek defender Kostas Manolas diverted a glancing header past the Barca backline and into the net. The scenes at the Stadio Olimpico were barely believable as the impossible had just happened, kings of the “Remuntada” had just been beaten at their own game.
2016/17: Barcelona 6-1 PSG
2017/18: Roma 3-0 Barcelona
This is only the third time in Champions League history that a team has overturned a three-goal deficit in a knockout game.
HISTORY!
Incredible scenes in Rome 🙌
Perhaps Barcelona would’ve been better off concentrating on their attack rather than wasting time in the first half, but this was Roma’s night and they deserved every bit of it. Nights like this are the ones that go down in the history of the Champions League as the wild scenes and passion inside the Olimpico delighted every single neutral viewer watching at home.
Many were expecting a comeback from Manchester City in the tie with Liverpool, but Roma were the side that went out, took their chances and did it. Eusebio Di Francesco believed and it is important not to forger that he is in his first season in this European competition. AS Roma are in the Champions League semi-finals and earned every bit of the praise that is undoubtedly coming their way.
