After the Champions League to conquer…there's the one to play. The time has also come for Roma to take the field for the round of XNUMX, in a competition that, so far, has seen them give their best. In fact, the Giallorossi have come this far after winning a group with Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, all while offering high-quality performances, moreover against all odds.
However, this is not enough to consider the match against Shakhtar as easy: on the contrary, should this be the approach, then yes there would be trouble. Napoli knows something about it, which precisely against Fonseca's Ukrainians left the qualification for the round of XNUMX, remedying a premature and sensational elimination at the dawn of the Cup.
“We must try to avoid lapses in concentration, giving continuity to both the defensive and offensive phases – thought Di Francesco – There will be moments in which we will command the game and others in which we will be forced to duck, we will have to be attentive and compact. I have seen a team growing rapidly and I hope to see it even better here”.
The frost in Kharkiv (temperature well below zero that expected at 20.45) is not exactly ideal for playing football but a rather interesting match will take care of warming up the environment, one of the most balanced of this Champions League round. The last time Roma faced Shakhtar didn't go too well: it was the round of 2010 of 11/3 and the Ukrainians won both the first leg (2-3) and the second leg (0-XNUMX).
“I haven't seen those matches again because too much time has passed – glossed over Di Francesco. – But I studied the last ones he made this season and I was struck by his way of playing, he has a very strong identity. We will play it 50-50, we are facing the challenge with great balance".
The coach's only problem is called Florenzi, stopped by an intestinal virus which, barring sensational last-minute recoveries, should put him out of the game. For the rest, the choices are made starting with the confirmation of the 4-2-3-1, a system that has helped to relaunch Roma after the difficult period between December and January.
In defense, to protect Alisson's goal, Bruno Peres, Manolas, Fazio and Kolarov will act, with De Rossi and Strootman in midfield, Under, Nainggolan and Perotti on the trocar, Dzeko in attack. “They are very strong, they fight for the top positions in Serie A and have come this far by winning a very difficult group – Fonseca's analysis. – But we are well prepared and on the qualification issue I say that we both have the same chances”.
The Portuguese coach wants to eliminate another Italian after Napoli and to do so he will rely on a 4-2-3-1 with Pyatov in goal, Butko, Ordets, Khocholava and Ismaily in the back, Fred and Stepanenko in the midfield, Marlos , Taison and Bernard behind the lone striker Ferreyra.
