Roma – Feyenoord: Feyenoord Fall Again In Rome (1-1, 4-2 After Penalties)
After an apparently desired draw in the first leg, Roma and Feyenoord played their fifth match against each other in three years, this time back in the Italian capital. The Stadio Olimpico was the site of Feyenoord's Europa League exit last season, and although it took penalties this time, history repeated itself.
Tactical analysis and match report by Neel Shelat.
Having been eliminated from the Coppa Italia and finding themselves over 20 points off league leaders Inter, the Europa League once again proved to be Roma’s only remotely realistic shot at silverware. Daniele De Rossi would have been glad to see all the players he used in the first leg available, but he did make a couple of changes for this tie. Cup keeper Mile Svilar remained in goal behind an unchanged defense of Rick Karsdorp, Gianluca Mancini, Diego Llorente and Leonardo Spinazzola. Bryan Cristante joined Leandro Paredes and Lorenzo Pellegrini in midfield, whilst Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku were supported by Stephan El Shaarawy on the left.
Things looked better than last week on the team news front for Feyenoord, as key players returned to the starting lineup. Lutsharel Geertruida was fit to start on the right of a back four which included Thomas Beelen, Dávid Hancko and Quilindschy Hartman ahead of goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuthe. Quinten Timber was back to join Mats Wieffer at the base of midfield with Calvin Stengs ahead of them, whilst Bart Nieuwkoop and Igor Paixão now had Santiago Giménez to look for in the middle.
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