Match report: Roma 3-2 Manchester United (agg 5-8)
Jamie Jackson, our man on the Manchester football beat, provides his take on a helter-skelter night at the Stadio Olimpico.
Ole on his side's fixture pile-up next week
“It’s unheard of,” he says. “It’s made by people who have never played football at this level. It’s physically impossible for the players to do it. After being here tonight, they have to play Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday which is impossible. We’ve not been dealt a good hand but we’ll have to play it as well as we can. We’rte going to need everyone in these four games but we’ll just have to be ready.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjær speaks ...
“It feels good of course,” the Manchester United manager tells BT Sport. “We played one very, very good half at Old Trafford, which has brought us through. Today we did a job ... I’m disappointed we lost the game because I never like to lose a game, especially the way we did it, but it was always going to be one of these open games with chances for both teams. It could have been 6-6 or 8-g to them. It was strange game of football.”
What was bewhind Roma’s performance tonight? “Well, we kept giving them the ball. We kept losing it in bad positions but luckily we’ve got one of the best goalkeepers in the world. And luckily we have a No9 up there, up front who wants to score goals. Edi and David – two top performances by them.”
Match report: Arsenal 0-0 Villarreal (agg: 1-2)
Nick Ames was at the Emirates Stadium to see Arsenal go out with a not entirely surprising whimper as Villarreal booked a date with Manchester United in the Europa League final. Read on ...
Harry Maguire speaks: “It’s a great achievement,” says the Manchester United captain in an interview swith BT Sport. “Obviously we didn’t win the game tonight so that’s a big disappointment but we did the hard work in the first leg and put ourselves in a great position.
“Tonight we needed to start the first half well but I thought we were a bit edgy. We had chances, they had chances ... they actually played a man-to-man pressing style which made the game end-to-end like basketball and there were chances for both teams. We had a good result at half-time but in the second half we gave them too many chances. We need to improve for the final, but it’s a great achievement.”
Full-time: Roma 3-2 Manchester United (agg: 5-8)
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeep! It’s all over in Rome, where Manchester United survived a minor scare to emerge victorious from a marvellously entertaining semi-final played across two legs. Roma were terrific tonight, certainly creating enough chances to put the collective heart crossways in Manchester United, but ultimately coming up short following their disastrous performance at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are through to the Europa League final, where they will meet the Spanish side Villarreal. Unai Emery’s side have just dumped out his former employers Arsenal.
90+1 min: Somewhat harshly, Brandon Williams is booked for a rash challenge on Roger Ibanez.
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88 min: On for Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford shoots high over the crossbar from distance. Moments later, Brandon Williams does the exact same thing.
86 min: Manchester United substitution: Juan Mata is on for Bruno Fernades, while Bryan Cristante has just been booked for something or other. Other yellow cards I forgot to tell you about in all the excitement: Rick Karsdorp and Edinson Cavani got booked for a bit of handbags some time ago.
GOAL! Roma 3-2 Manchester United (Zalewski 83) (agg: 5-8)
Wow. Zalewski smashes the ball goalwards from a tight angle and the ball goes in off Alex Telles. There’s a hint of offside but the goal is given. Whether or not the debutant will get to keep it remains to be seen; I suspect it will be chalked up as an own goal.
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82 min: Roma have had 11 shots on target in this game comapred to Manchester United’s four. Both sides have hit the woodwork, efforts which aren’t counted as being on target. It’s been quite the chaotic white-knuckle ride.
80 min: Roma swarm forward again and Mkhitaryan tries to play in Pellegrini. His touch lets him down and the ball carries through to De Gea.
77 min: Roma double-substitution: Nicola Zalewski and Borja Mayoral on for Pedro and Edin Dzeko.
76 min: Pedro crosses into the Manchester United penalty area, where Edin Dzeko heads over the bar.
75 min: Nothing comes of the set-piece, but Roma do win a freee-kick about 40 yards from the U|nited goal. Pellegrini curls the ball in and it’s put out for a corner. Harry Maguire clears the ensuing inswinger.
74 min: Another great chance for Roma! Mkhitartyan runs on to a through ball and thumps the ball against the foot of the post from a tight angle. It takes a nick off Harry Maguire en route and goes out for a corner.
72 min: This has been a terrific game of football. Way, way better than I think anyone was expecting. With a bit more precision up front, Roma could have given Manchester United a real scare. They’ve had the scoring opportiunities, they jkust couldn’t put them away.
71 min: Roma substitution: Davide Santon, formerly of Newcastle United, replaces Bruno Peres.
GOAL! Roma 2-2 Manchester United (Cavani 69) (agg:4-8)
Panic over. Edinson Cavani beats the Roma offside trap to run into space and meet a Bruno Fernandes delivery. From ther penalty spot, he spanks a downwards header past Mirante and into the back of the net. That’s seven goals in his past six games for the Uruguayan.
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67 min: One suspects Ole Gunnar Solskjær may be questioning the wisdom of removing his full-backs at half-time. Their replacements, Alex Telles and Brandon Williams, are being rent asunder down both flanks.
66 min: Mason Greenwood clips the ball over the goalkeeper and wide of the far post after meeting an excellent pass into the Roma penalty asrea from Bruno Fernandes.
65 min: Manchester United substitution: Nemanja Matic on for Paul Pogba.
62 min: And again! Another remarkable save from De Gea, who somehow keeps out a Mkhitaryan effort from close range after the Armenian met a Pedcro cross. I’m not sure the Manchester United goalkeeper knew much about that - Mkhitaryan’s effort hit his leg.
61 min: Oh wow! From close range, David de Gea saves brilliantly from Pedro. If that had gone in it would have been “game on” in a big way.
GOAL! Roma 2-1 Manchester United (Cristante 59) (Agg: 4-7)
There’s another. A mistake by Fred giftspossession to Roma and Cristante shoots past De Gea from distance. It’s a beauty!
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58 min: Fred is booked for an overzealous challenge on Ebrima Darobe.
GOAL! Roma 1-1 Manchester United (Dzeko 55) (Agg: 3-7)
The comeback is on! Edin Dzeko skims a header home from close range, getting on the end of a bouncing ball after Pedro had fired into the ground from the right.
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54 min: Mancini is penalised for shoving Cavani to the ground just inside the Roma half. For reasons that remain unclear, the Uruguayan is sporting a white sticking plaster on one of his exquisitly sculpted cheekbones. Perhaps he cut himself shaving.
53 min: Pedro shakes his head in frustration after being denied a corner and it looks like he might have a case. The ball appeared to go out out of the shin of Bailly.
51 min: David De Gea is forced to make another save from the livewire that is Lorenzo Pellegrini. You have to hand it to Roma for plugging away in the face of an insurmountable lead.
47 min: The ball strikes the out-stretched arm of Maguire in the Manchester United penalty area, but referee Felix Brych doesn’t award a penalty. After a quick VAR check, play resumes with Roma being denied a spot-kick. Maguire flicked the ball onto his own arm and given the current state of the handball law and its myriad interpretations, I have no idea whether Roma are entitled to feel hard done by or not. I’ve certainly seen penalties given for a lot less.
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Second half: Roma 0-1 Manchester United (agg: 2-7)
46 min: Play resumes with two changes in personnel on the Manchester United side. Brandon Williams and Alex Telles replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw.
Elsewhere in the Europa League: It’s scoreless between Arsenal and Villarreal in the other semi-final at the Emirates, with Arsenal trailing 2-1 from last week’s first leg in Spain. Paul Doyle is keeping tabs on that one ...
Half-time: Roma 0-1 Manchester United (agg: 2-7)
Peep! My hopes for this game were far from high but that was a tremendously entertaining first half. Manchester United sleptwalk through the opening 20 minutes and had to rely on David De Gea to keep the deadlock unbroken.
Edinson Cavani missed two good chances for the visitors before destroying any faint hopes Roma might have had of turning this tie around with his sixth goal in as many games. He’s been a terrific signing for United.
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45+1 min: From the Roma byline, Donny van de Beek pulls thge ball back to Cavani, who tees up Fernandes. He curls his effort wide of the far post.
45 min: Bruno Fernandes ends up in a heap on the floor after attempting a scorpion kick on the edge of the Roma six-yard box. He failed to make contact with the ball that bounced his way from Mason, but it was worth a go.
43 min: Free-kick for Manchester United about 10 yards outside the Roma penalty area, a little left of centre. Bruno Fernandes, who won the free-kick, shoots the ball straight into the defensive wall.
41 min: Another fine save from David De Gea, who saves with a strong left hand from Mkhitaryan. Edin Dzeko played the ball to his team-mate at the far post and from close range he forced a very smart stop indeed from De Gea.
GOAL! Roma 0-1 Manchester United (Cavani 39) (agg:2-7)
Game, set and match ... United. A ball in behind by Fred, who was sent on his way by a lovely touch from Fernandes, sends Cavani on his way in a one-on-one with Antonio Mirante. He makes no mistake on this occasion, smashing the ball past the Roma goalkeeper.
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35 min: Roma need to score at least four goals to rescure to this tie and while they’ve failed to trouble the scoreboard operator this evening, it’s wortth noting they’ve had at least three excellent scoring opportunities. By the same token, of course, Edinson Cavani has gone close twice for Manchester United.
34 min: David De Gea gets down to save well from Pellegrini after the ball had squirted the Roma man’s way following a ponderous foray into the United penalty area by Edin Dzeko, who ran into traffic before he could fire off a shot.
33 min: Bruno Peres wins a corner off Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Nothing comes of it.
30 min: Henrikh Mkhitaryan gets on the end of a Pellegrini cross from the left and skims his header towards the far post wide. It’s a bad miss, considering he had a free header. The linesman raised his flag but I think the Armenian was onside.
29 min: Roma substitution: Chris Smalling off, Ebrima Darobe on. The nineteen year old Gambian comes on for only his second appearance for Roma.
28 min: It looks like the jig could be up for Chris Smalling, who goes down in need of treatment after smashing the ball out of play.
27 min: In the Roma goal, Antonio Mirante pulls off an astonishing save, somehow blocking and clawing away a howitzer of an Edinson Cavani shot from close range. Hats off to Bruno Fernandes, who picked out Cavani with a wonderful pass with the outside of his right foot.
25 min: Eric Bailly strides out of defence with the ball at his feet and is given the freedom of the park to advance as far as he likes. Approaching the penalty area, he attempts to play it wide to Greenwood, but passes it straight to Chris Smalling, who no longer plays on the same team as him.
23 min: Rick Karsdorp curls a wonderful long pass down the left flank, trying to pick out the run of Lorenzo Pellegrini. Luke Shaw beats the Roma No7 to the ball ... but only just.
22 min: Luke Shaw whips a nice cross into the Roma penalty area from the left but it’s headed clear.
19 min: Edinson Cavani runs on to a ball over the top, waits for it to bounce and lifts it over Roma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante. His effort is almost perfect in its execution but he rubs his hands through his long, luxurient locks in frustration upon seeing the ball clip the crossbar and roll on to the roof of the net.
18 min: Aaron Wan-Bissaka gets booked for a late tackle from behind on Bruno Peres. His team-mates argue that he got the ball (not that it matters), while referee Felix Brych quite correctly points out that he didn’t.
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16 min: The game is still being played at a ridiculously frenetic pace, with Manchester United struggling to get a foot on the ball and slow things down to the more leisurely pace that would suit them. It’s scrappy but entertaining fare.
12 min: Roma continue to dominate but have yet to get the early goal that would really put a spring in their step. Pellegrini plays the ball forward to Mkhitaryan, who tries to flick it on with his heel to Edin Dzeko. It’s intercepted. The ball breaks to Pedro, who shoots high over the bar.
8 min: De Gea is forced to save again. Luke Shaw nods off and is beaten down the right by Rick Karsdorp, who pulls the ball back for Dzeko. De Gea sticks out a leg to save his effort. Roma are throwing the kitchen sink at Manchester United in these early stages.
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6 min: Lorenzo Pellegrino attempts to reduce Roma’s arrears with a left-footed shot from the edge of the United penalty area. It’s well wide.
5 min: The ball had dropped for Mancini in the United penalty area and he attempted a scissors kick from close range - De Gea did splendidly to keep it out, although I suspect any goal the Roma midfielder may have scored would have been ruled out for a handball in the build-up.
Roma v Manchester United (agg 2-6) is go ...
3 min: Apologies for the minor delay in transmission - wifi issues. You join us shortly after David De Gera is forced to make an outsatanding save from Gianluca Mancini and just as Henrikh Mkhitaryan heads into the side-netting from the ensuing corner. Roma mean business.
Not long now: The teams are out on the pitch going through the last of the pre-match formalities, the players of Manchester United wearing their zebra-striped shirts, white shorts and white socks. Their hosts wear their traditional burgundy shirts, shorts and socks.
Those teams: Ole has picked an attacking side, spear headed by Edinson Cavani, with Mason Greenwood coming into the starting line-up for his 100th appearance for the club. Eric Bailly and Donny van de Beek also start. Scott McTominay, Victor Lindelof and Marcus Rashford drop out.
Roma make four changes from last week’s match, three of them enforced. Antonio Mirante starts in goal for the injured Pau Lopez. Gianluca Mancini, Bruno Peres and Pedro also start.
Roma v Manchester United line-ups
Roma: Mirante, Karsdrop, Smalling, Ibanez, Bruno Peres, Cristante, Mancini, Pedro, Pellegrini, Mkhitaryan, Dzeko.
Subs: Boer, Fuzato, Santon, Mayoral, Kumbulla, Bove, Ciervo, Darboe, Zalewski.
Manchester United: De Gea, Shaw, Maguire, Bailly, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Van de Beek, Fernandes, Pogba, Greenwood, Cavani.
Subs: Grant, Henderson, Lindelof, Mata, Rashford, Diallo, Alex Telles, Matic, Williams, Tuanzebe, McTominay, Elanga.
Tonight’s match officials
- Referee: Felix Brych
- Assistant referees: Mark Borsch and Stefan Lupp
- Fourth official: Felix Zwayer
- Video Assistant Referee: Marco Fritz
Ole Gunnar Solskjær speaks
“We’re not going to play on the [first leg] result, we’re going to play to win this game,” said Manchester United’s manager. “That’s the only way I think we can play this game. Of course there might be one or two changes in the selection, but we have to get into the final. Everyone says it’s done but I’ve seen bigger upsets than this. Roma beat Barcelona in a second leg after being 4-1 down.
On Mason Greenwood: “We’ve spoken about whether he’s going to be wide right, or be a No9, because you’ve got to stick your head in there. He’s a pretty boy and I’m not sure if he’s going to do that. Keep doing what he does, he’s got a very bright future, I’m sure of that.”
Paulo Fonseca speaks: “We have to be realistic, obviously it won’t be easy to win 4-0,” said Roma’s soon-to-be former manager. “But in football I have seen and experienced many things, there is nothing that is impossible.
“Compared to us they will certainly be fresher and, in addition, they have the advantage of the first-leg result, which will make them feel safe. However, we want to win and fight to the end.”
Early team news
Having learned on Monday that he’ll be relieved of his duties come season’s end to be replaced by Jose Mourinho, who will take up the cudgels during the summer, Roma manager Paulo Fonseca may not be overly concerned by the long list of absentees he is forced to plan without tonight.
Having gone off injured during the first leg, Roma goalkeeper Pau Lopez is out for the rest of the season and should be replaced by Antonio Mirante. Midfielders Leondra Spinazzola, Carles Perez, Amadou Diawara and Jordan Veretout missed their side’s defeat at the hands of Sampdoria on Sunday and are also expected to miss out tonight.
Dan James is injured and hasn’t travelled to Rome, while long-term absentees Anthony Martial and Phil Jones remain sidelined. Given his side’s handsome lead it will be interesting to see how strong a team he selects. With quick-fire matches looming next Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, he may opt for a second string side. Young wingers Amad Diallo and Anthony Elanga have been named in his 24-man squad.
Semi-final second leg: Roma v Manchester United (agg: 2-6)
Rome’s Olympic Stadium is the venue for the second leg of a semi-final that looks all over bar the shouting following Manchester United’s emphatic first leg victory. Having gone 2-1 down at Old Trafford, United spanked home five goals without reply to take what looks like an unassailable lead to the Italian capital.
Barring a collapse of quite frankly preposterous proportions, they will advance to the final in Gdansk, where they will meet Arsenal or Villarreal. Kick-off is at 8pm (BST) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
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