Manchester City 1-1 Roma, full time on 30th September 2014. Romanisti leaving the stadium like myself and those around the world could start plotting our way out of the group stage with confidence and in some quarters even beginning to contemplate the prospect of doing it with a game to spare.
Then came the humiliation, and morale-damaging defeat to Bayern at the Olimpico, followed by another defeat in Germany before seeing a precious three points snatched away in the final seconds in Moscow. Little over 2 months later and the feeling has changed dramatically in the Eternal City.
Firstly, some perspective is probably needed. At the time of the draw back in August, if I’d been offered a ‘shoot out’ chance of qualification with City at the Olimpico in the final game I’d have grabbed it with both hands. Having been handed a real group of death on our return to the Champions League after 5 years it’s fair to say expectation was not high amongst Romanisti and even trying to make a fist of it this season looked like a tall order. Optimism had risen by the time full time came at the Etihad. We started like a house on fire, 4-0 up and cruising at half time against CSKA Moscow on match day 1, this Champions League malarkey seemed like a walk in the park!
The eventual 5-1 win on a memorable night suggested that maybe we could be more than runners up in the group, but we all knew that the real test of our credentials would come in Manchester. So, to that night in September. Rudi Garcia’s men produced a superb display, proving more than a match for City and at times dominating, the midfield trio of Miralem Pjanic, Seydou Keita and Radja Nainggolan performing excellently, Gervinho and Maicon causing constant problems and led by our iconic captain Francesco Totti, the Giallorossi came away with a fully deserved point, and but for Joe Hart it could well have been more. ‘Game on’ was the reaction in the Roma camp, we’d come to the English Champions and matched them toe- to-toe and taken a point off them in their back yard. Surely it was all to be plain-sailing from here? CSKA looked as if they’d be the whipping boys of the group and City were having their traditional struggles amongst Europe’s elite. Well, not quite.
Bayern came to a sold out and bouncing Stadio Olimpico a few weeks later, with the mood in Rome buoyant. A few hours earlier CSKA had clawed City back in Moscow and Roma had the chance to go top of the group and pull 5 points clear of Pellegrini’s men. Even in my worst nightmares I could never have imagined what would happen in the 90 minutes that followed. Bayern pulled us a apart, destroyed and humiliated us. I don’t want to talk too much about that game, but it has undoubtedly left a mark on Roma who have not looked the same side since. The swagger that the team played with at the Etihad has disappeared, and replaced with a nervy, unconfident side who no longer look so sure of themselves. An elementary defeat at the Allianz followed, although by a far less embarrassing tally. Then came the heartbreak of Moscow, where the Giallorossi led through a superb free kick from that man again Totti, before squandering some glorious chances to kill the game, then conceding what could prove a costly equaliser in the dying seconds of injury time. That all means that since the draw in Manchester, Roma have only managed to accrue one more point since then.
In terms of league form, we are in a very similar position to City, 3 points behind the leader Juventus in Serie A (albeit only due to some scandalous refereeing decisions in our 3-2 defeat at the Juventus stadium, without which we’d be top), but stuttering and stumbling our way through the campaign. We’ve dispatched provincial sides with ease (prior to Sassuolo this weekend) but suffered a terrible defeat in Naples where had the opposition been any better we could have been looking at another 7-1 and in terms of performances have never really matched the heights of a team that dazzled Italy last season. We have suffered a never ending injury crisis, ongoing since the summer which has led to the line up, and defence in particular changing on a game by game basis. The expectation on the team this season is also a lot higher than it was last term, and many see Roma as title favourites. This is a burden that the team are perhaps struggling to cope with.
So, I expect I’ve left City fans reading this in optimistic mood ahead of Wednesday’s crunch clash! It isn’t all bad news though, Roma still possess a very strong and able team, and on our day would prove a match for most teams in Europe, as we have already shown. If Gervinho, Totti (both rested ahead of this game, though Gervinho did play some part against Sassuolo at the weekend) and the inform Adem Ljajic click then City, who it appears will be without some key players will be in for a tough evening. Roma also have a superb record at the Olimpico, having only lost twice there in all of 2014. It will be a near sell-out again on Wednesday night so City will need to try and draw experience from one of their previous trips to Italy, at the San Paolo in Naples as they will be facing a very similar atmosphere.
There are some doubts over how I Lupi will line up, with suggestions that Garcia may drop Vice Captain Daniele De Rossi and goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis, both suffering from poor form. My predicted 11 would be as follows; (4-3-3) Skorupski; Maicon, Astori, Manolas, Holebas; Pjanic, Nainggolan, Keita; Ljajic, Totti, Gervinho.
It’s very difficult to predict how this one will go. Will Roma turn on the style like they did against CSKA in Rome, or completely capitulate again? As for City, will they crack under the pressure of 60,000 screaming Romans and bottle another big European night? It’s not in the nature of either side to sit back and defend so I think we will be in for an exciting game either way. From our perspective, the importance of this game to Roma’s season is obviously huge, both financially and what qualification or non qualification could do to the players confidence and morale. Win and the memories of the Bayern game can finally be banished for good, and maybe we will see the old Roma return. Lose and the physiological effect it would have may be so damaging that a season of so much promise turn into one of ruin.
Prediction time. I think Roma, helped by some key absentees for City, along with a raucous home crowd behind us will do it and squeeze through, but it will be close affair with only one goal being the difference. Roma 2-1 Manchester City.
Forza Roma!
