Samp-Roma 0-1 and Bodø/Glimt.
Let's get used to this Roma. Not perfect. Full of difficulties. But with great character. Able to take victory home. Accompanied by great fans. Led by a great coach. Thanks to so many good players [today the best were Mkhi (scoring the winning goal), Cristante (who orchestrated the game well) and Zalewski (who will now have to show his worth against the fearsome Solbakken)] and with a strong personality . In particular, the strong personality was decisive in keeping in defense (very good Mancini-Smalling-ibanez) without great suffering and in managing the poor advantage.
My daily football controversy this time is not about the referees, but about the players. It is not possible that the players as soon as they feel touched fall to the ground and squawk like geese of the Capitol. Also this is a problem of Italian football which then finds itself out of the World Cup and, let's not forget, out of the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Abroad, the referees do not call foul for these useless melodramatic dramas (great respect for dramas as a form of theatrical art, but not on the football field) and it is also for this reason that our results in Europe are mediocre.
From the fake tragedy of the gasping Italian players to the real one of the war in Ukraine, the transition is easy. It is not true, but the topic is important, it should not be forgotten and it is right to talk about it. Again, I find myself begging the powerful politicians to find a road to peace for Ukraine as soon as possible. Bucha's images are terrible. This is war. With war, man is deprived of any sense of humanity and all this is truly stupid and sad.
For this reason, to say that Roma experienced a sporting tragedy the last time we were in Bodø is truly ridiculous. Football is also good for this. When it is taken only as a sport, without burdening it with violent acts that make it nefarious, it is a positive aspect of life. Even when you lose 7-1. Also because it also gives you the possibility of a rematch. As is happening to us with this quarter-final.
Knutsen fielded the 433 which became 451 in the defensive phase. It is a team based on determination and the desire to fight even with good technical quality. They have a lot of possession in Elitserien, but I don't rule out that with us they may seek the long ball more often. In the offensive phase they are looking above all for a cross for the central striker or for a midfielder that fits. The players with the highest technical quality are the left winger (Pellegrino) and the right winger (Solbakken) who put in very sweet crosses, and also a little slow. They play with inverted-footed wings. Pellegrino is the left wing but he is right. Solbakken is the right wing but he is left. Solbakken is dangerous when he goes towards the center to shoot left, but he is also good with low assist from the back. I see very well Zalewski against him: it is important not to retreat, but to wait for the opponent to move in order to steal the ball. In the offensive phase, the two midfielders are inserted to help the attacking action. Solbakken takes the corner from their right.
On corners, they defend man by man.
The pitch will be a factor in the match. It is synthetic and it is a small field that favors pressing, which even the Norwegian yellows do very well. We will have to press and do it well. In case it is exceeded, we will have to know how to go back quickly. The first leg taught us that the Norwegians are strong and we will have to play concentrated. Despite the previous fresh, we may be able to win from them too. Let's prove it. Daje Roma!
Giordano Sepi