ALKMAAR (HOLLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Roma’s Europa League run becomes even more complicated. Claudio Ranieri’s team loses 1-0 in the Netherlands against AZ Alkmaar and remains on 9 points in the standings with one day left in the league phase. In the next round, on Thursday, January 30, Roma will host Eintracht at the Olimpico, but a different attitude will be needed to win the three points. Claudio Ranieri had described AZ as a team that “runs forward, goes in transition and attacks the goal.” The description is true to the game plan adopted by Martens’ team, which in the first half gave up possession to Roma (57 percent), but kicked several times (4 to 1) toward the goal defended by Svilar. The sharpest chance came from Meerdink, who in 41′, after an inadvertent assist from Ndicka, kicked high from an inviting position. Roma – fielding Celik and Pisilli in place of Mancini and Pellegrini – struggled to build play. The only Giallorossi to kick at goal in the first 45′ was Dovbyk, who unloaded his left-footed shot on 29′ finding Owusu-Oduro’s diving response. It was the Ukrainian (cautioned in 19′ for a hit on Goes) who made way for Soulè at halftime. Without the long throw-in solution, Roma was forced to maneuver and at 49′ came close to scoring: Angelino’s rabona angled Dybala into the box, whose left-footed first-time shot failed to find the target. The rhythms, however, as the minutes pass drop. Also for this reason Ranieri at 74′ chooses to play the El Shaarawy card, who takes the place of Saelemaekers. Roma plays the game, but takes a big risk at 76′, when Maikuma at the second post fails to get a good header after a cross from the right. It was the dress rehearsal for the goal that came in the 80′: Clasie worked a ball for Wolfe, who crossed into the center for Parrott’s winning touch. A goal that allows the Dutch to overtake the Giallorossi in the standings (11 points against 9). For Ranieri, the away taboo continues.- photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
