“There are no likes or dislikes, only performance.” And the message of the day before arrived perfectly in the head of Evan Ferguson, who plays his best game ever not only since he landed in Rome, but most likely in the last two years. Roma thus defeated Celtic Park 3-0 (a brace from the Irish centre-forward and an initial own goal from Scales) and effectively put the mortgage on progressing to the next round. Now with a success between Stuttgart and Panathinaikos Gasp could also enter the top eight, thus avoiding the gauntlet of the playoffs.
वाई एवन- Gasperini changes almost half the team for the first time in the season, sending in Rensch, Pisilli, El Aynaoui, El Shaarawy and Ferguson from the start. We need to make up for the double slip with Napoli and Cagliari, but above all we need to secure qualification. And Roma managed to do it already in the first 45 minutes of the game, when they always pressed high, recovered many balls in the opponent’s half of the field and exploited the mismatch both on a technical and tactical level that exists with the Scots. The Giallorossi are too strong, Celtic are too modest. Furthermore, this time Gasperini finds a gigantic Ferguson, who after coming close to scoring in the 27th minute (outside post after a good recovery by El Aynaoui) gives himself a double: a winning shot on an assist from Celik (the Irishman’s movement to slide behind the marker is perfect), stop and chic turn for the 3-0. What gave the Giallorossi the lead, however, was an early own goal by Scales with a header, following a corner from Soulé. In short, absolute domination, certified by the other Giallorossi actions, with opportunities from El Shaarawy, Soulé and Pisilli. At the end of the first half, Hermoso’s naivety, whose hold on Engels was punished with a penalty, but the Belgian midfielder wasted it on the post.
MANAGEMENT – Nancy then tries to revive Celtic by sending in first Bernardo, Iheanacho and Donovan, then also Ralston. Pisilli immediately devours the 4-0 with his head (but he was offside), then Celtic grows and comes close to scoring twice with Iheanacho (ball out and goal disallowed for offside) and McGregor (high shot). The three-goal advantage gives too much certainty to the Giallorossi, who, by lowering the tension, leave the initiative to their opponents. The external chains (Rensch-El Shaarawy and Celik-Soulé) work less than in the first half and the pressure is also less intense than at the beginning of the match. But once the outburst is over, the dangers also end. Indeed, Roma scored again with Bailey (millimeter offside), with the Jamaican then coming close to scoring again. At the end there is also room for Angelino’s return to the field. He had been missing since September 28th, Gasperini is celebrating for him too. Andrea Pugliese
