Roma have won their first ever major UEFA competition thanks to a marvellous bit of skill from Nicolò Zaniolo in Tirana, beating Feyenoord 1-0 in the Conference League Final.
The Giallorossi recovered Henrikh Mkhitaryan after several weeks out and opted to use him, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolò Zaniolo to support Tammy Abraham at the National Arena in Tirana. Feyenoord got goalkeeper Justin Bijlow back after two months and had Conference League top scorer Cyril Dessers upfront.
Mkhitaryan was a big gamble with only one training session with the team before this Final, but he only lasted 16 minutes before having to make way for Sergio Oliveira with a recurrence of that muscular issue.
It was a very even game, but Roma broke through with two moments of great skill and vision. Gianluca Mancini floated a ball over the top, which Zaniolo chested down and then flicked over the on-rushing goalkeeper from seven yards off the outside of the boot.
Rui Patricio got away with a rather wobbly attempt to parry the long-range Orkun Kokcu effort, while Mancini flung himself in the way to block a Reiss Nelson strike.
Feyenoord started the second half very aggressively and had a double chance on a corner, first Gernot Trauner flicking a low cross onto the upright from point-blank range, then Rui Patricio making a reaction save on Guus Til. There was a VAR silent check for potential Bryan Cristante handball, but no need for an on-field review.
Moments later, Rui Patricio had to palm a ferocious Tyrell Malacia strike onto the frame of the goal.
It was a fiery period of the game, Tammy Abraham furious Marco Senesi held him back with two hands grabbing an arm as he was going clear on goal, but the referee and VAR waved play on. It could easily have been a red card.
Chris Smalling made another great block on Kocku and was fortunate after a slip that Dessers couldn’t take advantage, while Jordan Veretout’s deflected attempt forced a tricky save from Bijlow.
Smalling charged down Dessers after a rare Roger Ibanez error and Rick Karsdorp was struggling with a muscular issue in the final 10 minutes.
Pellegrini’s angled drive forced a save at the near post after he was sent clear by a smart through ball.
Roma 1-0 Feyenoord
Zaniolo 32 (R)