Rather than repeat the approach taken late on at Camp Nou, Roma have transformed to a 3-4-1-2 system against Barcelona for a potential remuntada.
Words: Elio Salerno
If Roma are in the draw for the Champions League semi-finals, we will have witnessed one of the greatest shocks in European football history. Attempting to over-turn a 4-1 first leg deficit is always problematic and that is made almost impossible when the opposition includes Lionel Messi.
Rather than repeat the approach taken late on at Camp Nou, Roma have transformed to a 3-4-1-2 system against Barcelona for a potential remuntada.
Words: Elio Salerno
If Roma are in the draw for the Champions League semi-finals, we will have witnessed one of the greatest shocks in European football history. Attempting to over-turn a 4-1 first leg deficit is always problematic and that is made almost impossible when the opposition includes Lionel Messi.
In fairness, the score-line from last week’s game makes it look like it was another routine win for the Catalan giants and Roma simply made up the numbers. The reality was very different, as two Roma own-goals, missed chances and strong shouts for penalties did not go their way.
The Giallorossi are all but out, however that is no excuse, and an opportunity to beat Barcelona should never be taken lightly. An away goal courtesy of Edin Dzeko provides a sliver of hope. After all, Barcelona did lose 3-0 in Italy at this stage last season. Who is to say lightning won’t strike twice?
Barca did concede seven in their two away knockout ties last season and have only won once on the road so far this term. Ernesto Valverde’s team is very different from that of last season. The Spanish tactician is more pragmatic in his approach and he will not leave Barcelona as exposed as they were during the 2016-2017 campaign.
A quick look at their defensive record is proof of that, as in the nine Champions League games played so far, they have conceded just four goals and only two of those away from Camp Nou.
Eusebio Di Francesco, perhaps understandably, selected a cautious looking line-up in last week’s first leg. Alessandro Florenzi operated in a right midfield position with Bruno Peres starting at right-back, Daniele De Rossi sat deep in a midfield triangle to offer extra protection in-between lines and reduce the space Lionel Messi had to play in.
Roma stayed compact and generally did a good job of disrupting Barcelona’s play, however a bizarre own goal from De Rossi undid all their good work first half. By the hour mark, the Romans found themselves three goals down and would have felt hard done by. To their credit, they did not fold and Coach Di Francesco made positive changes that had the desired impact.
Those changes see a slight change in shape and it would make sense for the Roma boss to adopt that from the start tonight, as they need goals and have nothing to lose. With Diego Perotti ruled out through injury and the return of Turkish star Cengiz Under, albeit only for the bench, we expected to see Under and Stephan El Shaarawy as inverted wingers to pin back Barcelona’s raiding full-backs.
Instead, Di Francesco transforms everything to a 3-4-1-2 with returning Radja Nainggolan in the ‘hole’ behind Dzeko and Champions League debutant Patrik Schick.
Roma will start the game with intensity and purpose, building early pressure and committing numbers into attack areas. An early goal could really set the tone for a fascinating night in the Italian capital.
Barcelona will want to take the sting out the game and fiery atmosphere. The away sides 4-4-2 will be a little more structured than usual. This will offer them defensive stability, with defensive banks of four and the opportunity to retain the ball for spells of possession. On the counter they have more than enough to keep Roma’s back four occupied, with Messi and Suarez around they will exploit any opportunity they get.
Although the tie looks over, Roma’s expansive set-up should make for an entertaining game and we should at least see the net hit on more than more occasion.