Roma were dumped out of this season’s Champions League thanks to a 2-0 loss to Manchester City at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Needing a win or a score draw to advance, Manchester City found away through as the team finally broke down a stubborn Roma team to advance to the knockout stages.
Roma got off to a bright start, testing a shaky Manchester City defence early. Gervinho was the first to have a go as he worked a lovely one-two with Miralem Pjanic. Unfortunately for Roma, nothing could come of the move.
But Roma weren’t done in the opening ten minutes as left-back Jose Holebas got behind the City defence. However, Blues’ goalkeeper Joe Hart was up to the task and denied the defender.
Roma’s early attacks all came from the left side and showed an obvious weakness of Manuel Pellegrini’s team. Pablo Zabaleta struggled mightily with Gervinho’s pace and movement, and it was the Ivorian that was Roma’s outlet when the Giallorossi could counter attack.
Roma’s Morgan De Sanctis was finally called into action with a twenty-first minute save from a James Milner strike. That save sparked a quick-fire Roma counter attack that once again called Hart into action as he got his finger tips to Gervinho’s shot.
As the first half wore on, City began to establish themselves more in the attack; however, the absence of leading goal scorer Sergio Aguero showed the team’s lack of pace at the central striker position.
Manchester City’s best player of the half was Jesus Navas, who slipped through a dangerous ball to Milner late in the first; however, De Sanctis dealt with the Englishman’s shot. Roma continued to hold strong and went into the half with nearly 60% possession.
The second half started in much the same way the first ended, with Manchester City unable to cut through a difficult Roma rearguard. But the Blues grew stronger.
Finally City’s fortunes changed on the hour mark as Samir Nasri struck from just outside the 18-yard box. The goal came out of nowhere as Roma had corralled the Blues up to that point. With Nasir’s stunner, Roma were left needing two goals as the match became a must-win affair.
With Roma in desperate need of goals, Garcia threw Mattia Destro on in the 70th minute for captain Francesco Totti. Moments later Kostas Manolas’ header from a Pjanic free-kick struck the post, denying Roma an equaliser. But that would be as close as Roma would get as the Giallorossi looked out of ideas.
With Roma pushing forward looking for a leveller, Nasir popped up again, finding Zabaleta in the 18-yard box. Zabaleta’s cool strike sealed Manchester City’s progression into the next round and Roma’s exit.
Roma’s elimination puts the Serie A club in the Europa League round of 32 as they will join a host of Italian sides playing for that competition’s trophy.
