Roma made their long-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League on September 10th, and they did so by heading to one of the few stadiums in Europe that no team ever wants to visit. That, of course, was Fenerbahçe’s Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul, but rather than folding under the cauldron of noise, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men stood tall on the banks of the Bosphorus.
The Giallorossi actually started the strongest of the two sides and took a deserved lead after 39 minutes when captain Bryan Cristante rifled home from the edge of the area after Donyell Malen’s fine dribble inside. But barely three minutes after the break, the hosts were level. Big-money new signing Mason Greenwood cut inside from the right and slotted in English defender Archie Brown, who was somehow Fenerbahçe’s furthest forward player. He dinked over Mile Svilar with a striker’s finish to secure the hosts a share of the spoils.
Roma’s Impending Champions League Journey
If one had offered Gasperini a 1-1 draw before the game, the Italian boss likely would have taken it; such is the sheer hostility of an away day in Istanbul. But the tests don’t stop there, and next up, Roma will welcome record 15-time champions Real Madrid to the Stadio Olimpico, with further clashes against Manchester United and defending back-to-back champions Paris Saint-Germain also looming on the horizon.
With such illustrious names competing in European football’s elite competition this term, it should come as no surprise to hear that online betting sites don’t consider Gasperini’s men a genuine contender for the trophy. Outlets such as the popular Lucky Rebel Sportsbook instead make reigning Spanish champions Barcelona the narrow 5/1 frontrunner, with PSG just behind at 11/2. Roma, meanwhile, is a far more modest 50/1, level with compatriots Napoli and 2024 finalists Borussia Dortmund.
Roma secured their Champions League return after a stellar maiden campaign under Gasperini last season. The capital city outfit sat down in sixth place after a 5-2 defeat away at eventual champions Inter on April 5th, but a run of six wins in their final seven games saw them oust both AC Milan and Juventus to squeeze into the top four. That ultimately sealed a return to European football’s top table for the first time in seven years, but what happened the last two times the club featured in the competition? Let’s take a look.
Late Porto Penalty Ends Roma’s Run
The last time Roma featured on this stage was in 2018/19. The year before, they mounted a shock run to the semifinals under Eusebio Di Francesco (more on that shortly), and the club was aiming to replicate that effort. However, they knew almost immediately that they were going to be in for a test when they were drawn into group G alongside record champions Real Madrid.
Los Blancos duly beat the Giallorossi home and away by a cumulative score of five goals to nil. However, there was joy to be had elsewhere, and a thumping win at home to Viktoria Plzen secured a spot in the Round of 16.
There, Roma were handed a dream draw as they were drawn to face Portuguese outfit FC Porto, arguably the weakest of the seven group winners they were able to face in the second round. The Romans duly secured a 2-1 victory in the first leg in the Olimpico after a brace from Nicolo Zaniolo, but Spanish striker Adrián’s away goal ensured that the Dragons headed back to their home turf still in with a chance at qualifying.
26 minutes into the second leg, the Portuguese outfit were level on aggregate through Tiquinho Soares, but captain Daniele De Rossi’s penalty put Roma back in the box seat. Powerful striker Moussa Marega then put Porto 2-1 up on the night and leveled the score at 3-3 on aggregate in the second half, and with the scores remaining that way at 90 minutes, the contest headed to extra time.
It looked as though a penalty shootout would separate the two teams, with the scores still deadlocked with just three minutes remaining. Then, Porto were handed a controversial late penalty, and the reliable left boot of Alex Telles duly found the back of the net to break Roma hearts.
The Greek God in Rome
But while the end of that run was disappointing, no one will ever forget the run that Roma embarked upon the season before. The Giallorossi failed to even reach the Champions League in 2016/17 after being dumped out in qualifying, but in 2017/18, the club wasn’t about to let their opportunity slip.
Roma were drawn into a group with English heavyweights Chelsea, but Di Francesco’s side thumped the Blues 3-0 in Rome and managed to salvage a 3-3 draw from Stamford Bridge, despite being 2-0 down. Further wins home and away against Qarabag, as well as a draw with Atletico Madrid, saw the Giallorossi surprisingly top their group, opening the door for an epic run.
First, Shakhtar Donetsk was dispatched in the Round of 16, albeit in nervy fashion. That set up a mouthwatering quarterfinal with Barcelona, but a 4-1 drubbing in the Camp Nou seemingly spelled the end for Di Francesco’s side. However, thanks to that away goal, the tie wasn’t completely over, and the Roma fans who headed to the Olimpico for the second leg knew it.
Their side reduced the arrears after just six minutes through Edin Dzeko, and 13 minutes into the second half, the deficit became just one after De Rossi’s penalty. It seemed as though Roma’s brave effort would peter out as the score remained 4-3 on aggregate as the clock ticked past the 80th minute. Then, Greek defender Kostas Manolas nodded home from a corner with eight minutes remaining, leveling up the scores on aggregate but handing Roma the advantage thanks to that away goal in Catalonia.
Roma would ultimately cling on for the win and progress to the semifinals for the first time since 1984. There, they very nearly pulled off a similar comeback against Liverpool, losing the first leg 5-2 but winning the second 4-2. However, it wasn’t enough, and in the end, the Reds prevailed before going on to lift the trophy, while Roma were left with just memories of an epic run that nobody saw coming.
