Party ruined, but party nonetheless. A goal by Adrian Lopez a few minutes from the end reopens a qualification discussion that seemed to be over, but certainly cannot erase what has been done by a super Zaniolo, since yesterday officially in the history and not only of Rome.
Yesterday's two goals transform him into the youngest blue ever to score a brace in the Champions League, moreover to a goalkeeper like Casillas who, ironically, made his debut in the competition (September 15, 1999) when Nicolò was just two months and a half of life. After 19 years, the great Iker had to bow twice to Massa's talent, who ended up in yellow and red in an operation entirely centered on Nainggolan and which instead, on balance, brought him above all to the fore.
“I am very happy, it is a dream come true – the words full of joy released after the match. – I'm happy with the victory we needed, it was important to start well. Now we're going to Porto to go through."
Yes, because Zaniolo's brace is not enough to direct a very open qualification, much more than yesterday's match said. After a balanced but yellow-red first half (Dzeko's post in the 38th minute cries out for revenge), the second half saw Roma accelerate and create various problems for Casillas, until the young Nicolò found the net with a right at the corner (70'). Joy at the Olimpico, which became a riot 6' later when Zaniolo himself deflected a missile from Dzeko which ended up on the post: another unbridled race under the South and the scent of quarterfinals.
To ruin the party, however, Adrian Lopez thought about it with a real gollonzo: a slipper from Soares became an assist for the Spanish forward, who, almost incredulous at his good fortune, beat the innocent Mirante (79'). And in the end the Olimpico even felt the thrill of an equalizer (Herrera's shot just off), so much so that he sighed with relief at Makkelie's final whistle and postponed his anxiety until the return match.
“We showed solidity and created many chances to hurt, it's a pity only for the goal we conceded – commented by By Francesco. – In the second leg we won't play to manage the result, but to try and score goals: any mistake can compromise a performance, you need balance but you need to be daring to grow further. Zaniolo? It must be left to grow and made to live in balance. After the first goal I told him to keep playing with his head and he was very good, even doubling the lead."
It's just a pity that the double advantage has been halved, otherwise it would have been a complete party but woe to looking only at the empty side of the glass. Roma can still present themselves at Dragao with two results out of three, then scoring could really cut Porto's legs. The mission is possibleprovided that Roma go on the field in the "Dr Jekyll" version and not the "Mr Hyde" version: knowing the ups and downs of this season, this is precisely the greatest fear.
