ROMA-SHAKHTAR DONETSK 3-0 (Highlights)
23 ‘Pellegrini, 73’ El Shaarawy, 77 ‘Mancini
ROMA (3-4-2-1): Pau Lopez; Mancini, Cristante, Kumbulla; Karsdorp, Diawara (78 ‘Carles Perez), Villar, Spinazzola (78’ Bruno Peres); Pellegrini (78 ‘Ibanez), Pedro (61’ El Shaarawy); Mkhitaryan (35 ‘Borja Mayoral). All. Fonseca
SHAKHTAR (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dodo, Vitao, Matvienko, Ismaily; Maycon, Alan Patrick (80 ‘Sudakov); Tete (88 ‘Konoplyanka), Marlos (88’ Marcos Antonio), Taison (80 ‘Solomon); Moraes (76 ‘Dentinho). All. Castro
Ammonites: Kumbulla (R), Alan Patrick (S), Taison (S), Maycon (S), Mancini (R)
A result like this, perhaps, was not even in the rosiest expectations. Roma feared Shakhtar, a team of great quality and dynamism, but was able to interpret the match well, highlighting the shortcomings of the Ukrainians. A success that is also double for Fonseca, former on duty and for the unfortunate Mkhitaryan forced to go out after only 35 ‘of play due to a calf problem. The fact is that the 3-0 at the Olimpico blinds a qualification to the quarters that has not yet been acquired but strongly biased in favor of the Giallorossi. An Italian Roma wins, and above all scores, with Pellegrini, El Shaarawy and Mancini, three national teams who, surely, will have made coach Mancini’s eyes sparkle.
As for training choices, Fonseca deploys Mkhitaryan as a ‘false nueve’ and Cristante at the center of the defense. Castro with the typical formation and with the very dangerous Taison, Tete and Moraes ready to strike. But it is Roma starting strong with Villar close to the lead with a hip shot that Trubin foils on the goal line. Shakhtar tries to react and restart and a slip by Mancini facilitates the conclusion of Moraes well saved by Pau Lopez. Then it is basically a monologue of Rome and at 23 ‘Fonseca’s team passes thanks to a combination between Mkhitaryan and Pedro with the latter rewarding the inclusion of Pellegrini who beats Trubin. Before leaving the field with a calf problem, Mkhitaryan tries to mock Trubin from 40 meters after a wrong throw by the same Shakhtar goalkeeper, but the ball ends up a little high. In the final part of the first half, the Roma rifiata and the rhythms are lowered.
The recovery begins with a slightly more aggressive Shakhtar, a couple of conclusions from Tete and Taison frighten the Giallorossi defense that after a few minutes of impasse it reorganizes and becomes solid again. Fonseca asks more of his people, specifically Pedro who is replaced by El Shaarawy. The Pharaoh is in the mood and immediately makes himself dangerous with too weak a conclusion. Mayoral almost doubled but the 2-0 always arrives on the Mayoral-El Shaarawy axis with the national team striker running for 40 meters with the ball and chain, eluding the intervention of two opponents and mocking Trubin with a nice shot underneath. The Ukrainians feel the blow and in the next action they also suffer the 3-0: from the developments of a corner by Cristante, Mancini’s head emerges and closes the match. In the final, Roma controls strong of a result that puts the passage to the quarters in a sort of safe.
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