It’s time to come back in Anoeta…
Rome always has something special and today the Olimpico was packed to the brim to witness a battle like those of the gladiators who fought in the coliseum. In this case, La Real was the gladiator who was defeated, but the best thing is that there is still a second assault in Anoeta next Thursday.
La Real started the game well, with personality and calm, touching the ball and dominating the situation. Roma were harassed for the first ten minutes, but in a defensive oversight by Imanol’s men, the Romans mounted a brilliant counter with Dybala and Abraham, who put a perfect ball to the far post so that El-Shaarawy put Mourinho’s men ahead.
It was difficult for the txuri-urdin team to get into the game after the conceded goal. Roma pressed the ball out and almost caused Remiro’s mistake in a compromised pass to Zubimendi that Dybala was about to steal. La Real dominated and, as the minutes went by, improved, reaching more and more into the area, but without specifying. Kubo had the equalizer with a shot to the post. But Roma continued to do their thing, giving free rein to the attacking players who flew on the counters.
La Real tried to get into the game with some shy shots from Zubeldia or Gorosabel inside the area, but without disturbing Rui Patricio too much, who barely had to intervene in the first half. At halftime, Mourinho’s Roma ahead, 1-0.
The second half began with the Roman team commanding and dominating with the ball, sleeping the game from possession sewing long plays. Little by little, La Real increased the intensity and the attacking players came into play with the gamer midfielders, who added intelligence to the game. Diego Rico had a great chance with a shot from outside the area that Rui Patricio repelled in the best intervention of the match.
Imanol’s men increased the intensity of the game, especially without the ball when it was time to press the ball out of Roma, which as the minutes passed were more crowded, but without losing face of the game. La Real hardly had any clear chances, except for one from Merino in the final stretch. And when you forgive, they can kill you. That’s how it went. A corner kick to the far post was finished off only free by the Kumbulla brand to make it 2-0 and the tie very uphill. The people from San Sebastian tried until the end, but the reality is that Roma were much better and the game turned out well.
Next week they will be measured in Donostia. La Real will have to change a lot to turn the tie around. Roma have one foot in the next round, but anything can happen in the next 90 minutes.
