You could say that this game marks the start of a huge test of this squads credentials to bring home some silverware this season. Starting with this game and up until March 4th, Roma will play a midweek game every week along with the usual weekend fixture. There is no let up. Between now and March 4th, Roma will play Villareal twice, the 1st leg of the Coppa semi-final vs Lazio and Torino, Inter and Napoli in the league. Never more apt a time for that old cliche one game at a time perhaps. There's no question Roma have what it takes to overcome their opponents here. A win would be great, a draw would be just fine.
Florenzi's setback is a real blow as I was hoping he'd be back for this stretch. Maybe not the beginning of this run but certainly the end.
Looking forward to this run of tough games. Been a while since we've had it. We had pretty much a full squad and one that now can play many different approaches confidently. Nothing more to add, just excited
I have to say a bad result here would be a big slap in the face for all the mental improvements the players have accomplished. We need to approach this match with a lot of humility and hard work. Villareal are a very good side and they would have outplayed Barca on their home turf if it wasnt for a last gasp fk equalizer from Messi.
The other day I went to check out their stats... they have only given up 15 goals in La Liga all year. That's insane it that league. They have only scored 29 goals so we should be able to limit their goals They are going to be very difficult to break down and Perotti is going to have to be at his best because one goal could be the difference in this.
Any other time, I'd say go all in on EL. Any trophy in Europe would be wonderful, but amidst the upcoming fixtures and their importance on where we finish in the league, I'm ho hum. I think the round of 32 with EL is where you catch a lot of teams being non-committal about the competition. Then teams get into the round of 16 and realize, oh crap, we can do this.
I'm torn. I'd be fine with finishing 3rd in the league if we won the EL. We'd still get in the CL, win some decent money and finally get some silverware
We'll see how seriously Spalletti is going to take EL based on who he starts. The fixture congestion for the next couple of weeks is going to be a real headache. I suspect that Spalletti will put Serie A and Coppa Italia above EL. If we weren't playing Lazio in the semifinal, I might be tempted to say he'd rate EL over the Coppa. But with Lazio as the semifinal opponent, he knows he has to win and get to the final.
I hope your wrong. Juve are 7 points up and I can't see them dropping enough points for us to have a chance. CI.. meh, no money and no CL spot. Sure it's a trophy but that's all it is. EL, very decent payday plus a guaranteed CL spot next season. Much more international exposure for EL than CI plus you get the added exposure in the Super Cup. Honestly, I'd play every reserve in the CI even if that means losing out to Lazio.
no way Spal takes CI lightly after that final we lost to nazio! Also that would be our 10th Coppa which would get us that golden star. In my opinion, it's Copa, EL and Serie A in that order. 7 points is a lot, im not giving up but it largely depends on rube. I would rather put my maximum effort in competitions i can control.
It isn't so much about catching Juve, but maintaining 2nd place. Napoli and Inter are in excellent form. Coppa Italia may not feel prestigious, but its a trophy that we have been wanting for years and it would cap off (possibly) Totti's last year.
If you win the EL then you get your CL place and I think we have more than enough to hold off Inter for 3rd. They are playing ok. They have lost to the only 2 good teams they have played in Juve and Lazio. Other than that they have beaten bottom-feeders like Pescara, Bologna, Palermo and Empoli. Personally, I'd rather have the money and the prestige that goes with winning a European competition.
Indeed, not to mention a glut of co-efficient points and the opportunity to play the European Super Cup final against the CL winner in August.
I agree. I would be ecstatic if we were to win Europa, you know cuz this is Roma and we don't normally win anything.
Is Perotti injured? None of the newspapers has him starting and I would think with a team like Villa who are great defensively and struggle to score you would really want him in there.
I know we haven't had much luck in the past with European fixtures, but for some reason I feel really good about this game. I don't have the jitters or nerves that I usually have. I think with our defense playing as good as it has, and Ninja just taking over and claiming this team as his own, we'll be in good shape.
With the news of Florenzi I'm fearing the Roma jinx beginning to creep in. Just when we start to believe, reality bitch-slaps us.