No problem for Roma who asphalts Cluj and takes the lead of group A. Everything already decided in the first half: Mkhitaryan unlocks after 57 seconds, Ibañez doubles and Borja Mayoral finds his first center in the Giallorossi shortly after half an hour. In the second half it will be a double for the Spaniard. Pedro’s Manita in the finale. 7 points for Fonseca who leaves Cluj at 4
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ROME-CLUJ 5-0
1 ‘Mkhitaryan, 24’ Ibañez, 34 ‘and 84’ Borja Mayoral, 89 ‘Pedro
ROMA (3-4-2-1): Pau Lopez; Fazio, Ibañez (61 ‘Smalling), Kumbulla; Bruno Peres, Cristante (74 ‘Milanese), Veretout (46’ Pellegrini), Spinazzola (46 ‘Juan Jesus); Villar, Mkhitaryan (46 ‘Pedro); Borja Mayoral. All. Fonseca
CLUJ (4-1-4-1): Balgradean; Susic (78 ‘Latovlevici), Manea, Ciobotariu, Camora; Hoban; Rondon (90 ‘Joca), Itu (46’ Paun), Djokovic, Deac (46 ‘M. Pereira); Debeljuh (67 ‘Carnat). All. Petrescu
Ammonites: Hoban (C)
It took Roma half an hour to get rid of Cluj. A 5-0 rounded in the final without problems, and which gives the first place in the group to the Giallorossi. Maximum result with minimum effort: Fonseca wins and, at the same time, rests the team. Seven changes compared to the eleven of the championship and three substitutions in the interval. Dzeko does not even enter, giving way to a Mayoral who unlocks himself with two goals (the second double in his career after the one in the Copa del Rey in November 2017); while Smalling, Spinazzola, Veretout, Pellegrini, Mkhitaryan and Pedro (moreover in goal) play one time each, or even less.
The match
In Rome – which paid homage to Gigi Proietti with a video memory on the big screen during the pre-game – there are seven changes compared to the last one in the championship. Rest Dzeko, Pedro, Pellegrini and Smalling, with Villar and Mkhitaryan starting holders behind Borja Mayoral. Ready and go the game is immediately downhill for the Giallorossi, that find the first network after just 57 seconds. Spinazzola crosses and Mkhitaryan gets the advantage on the net. Roma then continued to play and easily penetrate the Cluj area. With another cross from the left (by Veretout from a corner) and with another header, di Ibanez, the doubling arrives. In the meantime, a couple of saves, not too complex, for Pau Lopez and the trio, who closed the game within half an hour. IS Borja Mayoral to mark the his first goal in the Giallorossi on the head bank of Bruno Peres. Interval.
In the second half, changes for Fonseca immediately, with 3-0 which thus allows the Giallorossi coach to continue to let everyone catch their breath: outside Veretout, Mkhitaryan and Spinazzola, in Pellegrini, Pedro and Juan Jesus. So (at game time) in Smalling too (for Ibañez). The match, already in the archive, then continues at a very low pace: Borja Mayoral has a couple of chances for a brace and Kumbulla must save Rondon’s possible 1-3 on the line. The last change of Fonseca is for the debut of the 2002 class Tommaso Milanese, the first among the professionals and immediately decisive with the assist Pedro which rounds the score after Mayoral’s brace. Rome is manita.
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