The Italian media has reacted to Roma’s 4-1 thrashing by Barcelona – “right now, for us, Spain is an inaccessible planet”.
The Giallorossi put in a good performance at Camp Nou last night, but were nonetheless beaten by three goals, effectively killing the tie.
“When you play against the best you can’t make mistakes and you need a bit of luck,” the Corriere della Sera wrote.
“For Roma against Barcelona, despite a brave game, neither of those things happened.”
The Italian media has reacted to Roma’s 4-1 thrashing by Barcelona – “right now, for us, Spain is an inaccessible planet”.
The Giallorossi put in a good performance at Camp Nou last night, but were nonetheless beaten by three goals, effectively killing the tie.
“When you play against the best you can’t make mistakes and you need a bit of luck,” the Corriere della Sera wrote.
“For Roma against Barcelona, despite a brave game, neither of those things happened.”
The newspaper notes that “the final score is the summary of the technical superiority of Barça” but “it was also an evening dedicated to Murphy’s Law: if something can go wrong, it surely will”.
Rome-based sports daily Corriere dello Sport called referee Danny Makkelie “a disaster” but pointed out “the Netherlands [like Italy] is home to VAR. Think about it, UEFA President Ceferin…”
The newspaper’s match report noted “there was too much Barça for Roma” and “now only a miracle will do”.
Tuttosport wrote “Roma played a good game at Camp Nou, but they ended up being swept away by Barcelona, who in the end celebrated a 4-1 win”.
According to the sports paper, “the Giallorossi paid for misfortune and a lack of courage on the part of Dutch referee Danny Makkelie, on a couple of incidents in the first half could have changed the story of the match”.
The Gazzetta dello Sport was more scathing, comparing Serie A with Spain’s La Liga.
“Three to zero for Real against Juve, four to one for Barça against Roma. If further proof were needed here it is: right now, for us, Spain is an inaccessible planet.”
Gazzetta points out that six games have been played between Italian and Spanish teams in this season’s Champions League.
“Four times they’ve won, with two 0-0 draws, but what’s really mortifying is the goal difference: 12-1. Only one, Dzeko’s goal here at Camp Nou.”
For the newspaper “the Spaniards are too strong because they differ in terms of technique and mentality, in tactical clarity, playing the ball on the ground, above of all, and for carefreeness”.
“Let’s not tell stories about a ‘comeback’ at the Olimpico,” the match report states.
“In seven or eight days we’ll start again with nice words and good intentions… they play, we make do.”