ROSSONERI OUT OF EUROPA LEAGUE
europa league
It wasn't our night and it wasn't a tie to remember. We come away from the Olimpico following a 2-1 defeat and, as a result, are out of the Europa League. We pulled one back through Gabbia late on following goals from Mancini and Dybala in the first 22 minutes. The Rossoneri besieged the hosts, who went down to ten men in the 31st minute following Çelik's straight red card, but produced very few clear-cut chances. Strangely, AC Milan's best chance of the night came when it was still 11 v 11, with Loftus-Cheek hitting the crossbar. The Giallorossi were organised and tough to break down and our forays forward weren't decisive enough to get us back into the game.
It was a negative evening in nearly every aspect because the hosts getting out to a two-goal lead on the night quelled our boys' reaction and completely changed the gameplan, forcing us to come from three goals down on aggregate, a tough ask even with the hosts a man down. After Çelik's sending-off, De Rossi's side put everything into keeping us away from their penalty area and were often successful in that enterprise. We had high hopes for the Europa League, but now it's back to Serie A and we have second place to defend in Monday's derby against Inter.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM ROMA v AC MILAN
THE MATCH
The Rossoneri lined up with Musah and Bennacer in midfield, but our plans took a turn for the worse in the 12th minute as the Giallorossi took the lead through Mancini, who followed up Pellegrini’s effort that bounced back off the post to tap into an empty net. We reacted with Loftus-Cheek hitting the bar on 20 minutes, following a Musah cross. Two minutes later, though, and Dybala doubled Roma’s lead on the night, picking up Gabbia’s clearance and picking out the far corner with his left: 2-0 and with a mountain to climb, even with Çelik's sending off in the 31st minute for a foul from behind on Leão, who was breaking away down the left-hand flank. Our attacking pressure continued and it was Loftus again who looked the most threatening as his header was blocked on the line by Spinazzola after 35 minutes. Without hesitation, Pioli brought on Jović for Bennacer, while De Rossi took off Dybala for Llorente. The first half ended with us unable to find a way back into the game following seven minutes of added-time.
It was all-out attack for the Rossoneri after the break, with Calabria and Loftus-Cheek being replaced by Reijnders and Chukwueze. And it was Sammy who found Luka in the box on 49 minutes, but the Serbian’s left-footed effort was blocked by the home side’s defence. Two minutes later, Pulisic shot over with his left from distance. Following a breakaway after 57 minutes, Maignan denied Spinazzola, before Rafa squared to Jović in front of goal, with Luka shooting straight at the keeper. Rafa went on a dribbling run in the 80th minute, but his low cross into the 18-yard area was behind everyone. We finally pulled a goal back through Gabbia’s well-placed header in the 86th minute, following another Rafa cross in. The final assault produced a left-footed effort from Chukwueze that was well-saved by Svilar, and in five minutes of stoppage time there was also space for Theo to be red-carded before a VAR review overturned the decision to a yellow. Nothing else came about and it is Roma who book their place in the semi-final.
MATCH DETAILS
ROMA 2-1 AC MILAN
ROMA (4-3-3): Svilar; Çelik, Smalling, Mancini, Spinazzola; Bove (37'st Sanches), Paredes, Pellegrini (37'st Angeliño); El Shaarawy, Lukaku (29' Abraham), Dybala (43' Llorente). Subs.: Boer, Rui Patrício; Karsdorp; Aouar, Zalewski; Azmoun, Baldanzi, João Costa. Coach: De Rossi.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria (46' Reijnders), Gabbia, Tomori, Hernández; Bennacer (40' Jović), Musah (69' Florenzi); Pulisic (69' Okafor), Loftus-Cheek (46' Chukwueze), Leão; Giroud. Subs.: Nava, Sportiello; Bartesaghi, Terracciano, Thiaw; Adli, Zeroli. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Marciniak (POL).
Goal: 12' Mancini (R), 22' Dybala (R), 86' Gabbia (M).
Booked: 46' Gabbia (M), 51' Adli (M), 77' Jović (M), 85' Calabria (M), 89' Tomori (M), 92' Hernández (M).
Sent off: 31' Çelik (R).
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