Manuela Giuliano at the death igniting Champions League comeback as Roma split with Bayern in Munich #1922
A.S Roma 2 Bayern Munich 2FT
Roma dropped six in the derby del Sol last weekend. This kept Roma perfect in all competitions this season. The additions they have made has made the team even stronger. A top 10 team in the world ready to test themselves against the very best as they run into their biggest challenge of the season. The champions league group stage began Wednesday night against a formidable foe. Last season Roma was grouped with Champions League runner-up Wolfsburg a European giant. They went on to finish second in the group and make the quarterfinals before losing to Barcelona in the last eight. This time around they would be placed in the group of death. Roma’s group consists of Bayern, Munich, PSG and Ajax. last season Roma took on a German giant on Wednesday night they would take on another one. Despite Wolfsburg having the most decorated trophy cabin in Germany, Bayern Munich are no slouches. They won the league last season beating Wolfsburg to the Bundesliga title. Led by Lea Schüller this Bayern side is not to be played with. They have European pedigree and experience in this competition. Meanwhile, for Roma this is their second season in European football. Now Roma would have to take them down in Munich a very difficult task. The group stage begins right here right now.
Spagna has shooting out of their typical 433 formation. In goal would be Romanian shot stopper Camellia Caesar. At left back would be Aigbogun beside her would be the center back partnership of Minami and Elena Linari sliding in at right back would be Lucia Di Guglielmo. In center midfield we would see the reunion of Saki Kumagai in Munich as she played for the German side last season. To her left would be former Frankfurt captain Laura Feiersinger and to the right, Roma playmaker Manuela Giuliano. Roma, as always, play with their three-headed monster up top. On left wing would be Serie A’s top scorer Canadian superstar, Evelyn Viens on the opposite side on the right wing would be the Norwegian ice Queen Emile Haavi then up front leading the line would be Italian goal Poacher Valentina Giacinti.
It was clear Roma met their match. Two of the most attacking centric sides in all of European football clashing horns on the highest level. In the vast majority of Roma’s performances, they dominate the ball and pick apart the opposition. Same goes with Bayern Munich. However, this was a bit different. It was more or less a fair exchange across the board. We were going to be in for something special this evening. However, it was the experienced Bayern Munich that would attempt to draw first blood. In the 10th minute Magdalena Eriksson delivered a beautiful pass down the wing into Klara Bühl She then dumps it off towards England’s World Cup star Georgia Stanway She then sends a cross towards the other side of the pitch before Linda Dallmann takes a slight touch into Bayern Munich difference maker Lea Schüller as she takes a strike on goal, it is eventually blocked before Linda Dallmann sees her shot saved. A lot happened there in the early sequence. Quite exceptional ball movement by Bayern Munich. Certainly something Roma will have to contend with as it goes on. Roma hit back In the 13th minute Manuela Giuliano has a free kick from a dangerous position She strikes the ball straight into the wall off of the defender’s leg Manuela Giuliano regains possession before spreading it towards Evelyn Viens from inside the box the Canadian follows through just narrowly missing above the goal. It was going to be quite a chess match. In the 20th minute Bayern Munich have a very deep free kick. It is delivered into the box from way out Icelandic center back Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir puts her head on the end of it as it’s heading towards the corner however Jovana Damnjanović ends up with the last touch as Bayern Munich take a 1-0 lead Elena Linari protests the goal claiming offsides but the goal stands as the Germans take control. Bayern Munich had their moments and so did Roma. An incredibly evenly matched exchange as things continue to heat up. In the 24th minute Miaimi finds a pass for Manuela Giuliano attempts a backpass that was deflected. She them picks up the ball and flings it towards Laura Feiersinger the former Bundesliga player takes a stab at it but can’t quite find the target. As the first half was beginning to come to a close, there was still plenty of action before the halftime whistle blew. In the 36th minute Lea Schüller ends up getting her head on the end of a cross coming from the right side Camellia Caesar makes an initial save before being cleared off the line by Lucia Di Guglielmo. Minutes later, Roma got on the break Miaimi in the 41st minute out at the back dishes the ball off towards Evelyn Viens she pushes forward with space around her. Eventually the Bayern Munich shirts started to surround her She stopped mid movement before sending a cross as she switches the field Haavi collects it before taking it into the box as she follows through. Trying to sting it into the bottom left corner but the time was a little off but only just. In the 45th minute Bayern Munich would score a second time Katharina Naschenweng controls the ball after being delivered to her from the left side. She takes a strike from outside the box It takes a unfortunate deflection off the shoulder of Elena Linari and into the back of the net as Bayern Munich took a 2-0 lead. A bit of misfortune at the end for Roma as they find themselves in a hole after 45 minutes.
Roma should feel hard done by. Despite Bayern Munich showing their quality, it has been end to end from both sides. Bayern Munich hasn’t been two goals better. However, Roma still given 45 minutes to turn this thing around. Early in the second half Bayern Munich nearly capitalize again. In the 50th minute Lea Schüller looked to take advantage of a scramble in the box. The Bayern Munich captain was right there to score another, but it was cleared by the Roma defense as the Italians get out of jail with a close call at the top of the second half. 2 minutes later they look to strike again In the 52nd minute Jovana Damnjanović sends a cross to Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir She been returns the ball to Jovana Damnjanović and she strikes from inside the box.but Cesar made the much important save. Roma manage themselves well in that stint as they were about to get themselves a lifeline. In the 57th minute Manuela Giuliano takes takes the ball forward as she starts to push it into the attacking area she notices Evelyn Viens making a run She supplies a near perfect through ball into the Canadian She then drives the ball into the box before picking out the bottom right corner as Roma get a goal back. The Roma’s supporter section explode as she runs over to celebrate with her teammates. She has been one of the best attackers in all of Europe this season and she scores her 8th goal of the campaign. The Canadian is turning out to be the bargain of the summer.
Plenty of time to get a find an equalizer before the night reaches its conclusion. As it has been displayed all match, there’s not to much that truly separates Roma from Bayern Munich. There would still be opportunities to capitalize and get a point. We got into the last 20 minutes and it heated up even further. 20 minutes to find a winner for Bayern Munich or an equalizer for Roma. In the 71st minute Lea Schüller nearly delivered the moment again. She is absolutely one of the best players in the world and was giving Roma all sorts of problems. She delivered a fantastic ball towards Giulia Gwinn as the 24-year-old found space at a tight angle, she looks for the left corner but can’t quite get the spacing right as the lead remains the same. In the 78th minute it looked like Evelyn Viens had another one in her back pocket. Just right outside the box she goes through multiple red shirts before sending it strike from distance into the goalkeeper’s hands. Her movement to evade herself from those around her was impressive but the shot didn’t test Maria Luisa Grohs as she manages to make the save. With less than 10 minutes to go in the 84th minute. Bayern Munich inches away from a third goal Klara Bühl cuts into the box before finding space to supply a short pass to Sarah Zadrazil at the near post follows through on the strike but ends up having to watch Minami clears it away as the Japanese center back smiles at Sarah Zadrazil as the two had a playful exchange. Time was running out for Roma but there’s always enough time when you have Manuela Giuliano. In the 89th minute, Roma hit an incredibly deep ball from Lucia Di Guglielmo landing at the feet of Evelyn Viens she sends a cross from the wing into the box to find Manuela Giuliano. The Roma captain drives the ball towards the bottom corner and initial save is made by the goalkeeper Roma’s number 10 collects it and sends it into the roof of the net as Bayern Munich try to crowd the area to prevent the goal as Roma get a break and reverse a two goal deficit as it is now level. Roma believe it or not, even had a chance to win it. In the 95th minute Roma get a corner. It is delivered by Manuela Giuliano into Bartoli she gets a late touch on it as her header was heading towards the back of the net but luckily for Bayern Munich Maria Luisa Grohs makes the necessary save as the full-time will still goes as Roma come from behind to take a point in Munich.
Roma battled through one of the biggest challenges of the season. Roma has passed every test with flying colors. Opening game of the season throws away a two goal lead against AC Milan. They come back and still win by two. The team that always has given Roma problems Juventus away from home in Turin Roma tormens them for 90 minutes and comes away with a 3-1 victory. Roma went on to make the quarter finals in their debut season in Europe. They are back again and better than ever. The Italians still are yet to lose a game this season. Domestically they haven’t dropped points in a single game. Here in Europe they may have dropped points but they came from behind to earn a point in the final minutes. Not to mention the final sequence could have gone their way. This Champions League group was always going to be incredibly difficult. For them to come here, come from two goals down and take a point in the most difficult group in the champions league is this a sign of progress. Bayern Munich is an incredibly strong side that matched up with Roma very well. They have some really special individuals. However, it turned out to be very end to end. Against Bayern Munich Roma didn’t look lost or at a place they went blow for blow all the way through. Obviously keeping the likes of Lea Schüller, Klara Bühl, Georgia Stanway and Jovana Damnjanović as Well as others contained was a bit of a challenge. Defensively Roma was incredibly sharp. They had a few moments that made them nervous but outside of that they were outstanding. Lucia Di Guglielmo and Minami were tremendous. Each of them made a deflection off the line that kept out a goal. Collectively from top to bottom. Roma put together a very courageous performance. Valentina Giacinti with another strong performance despite not scoring. However, last year’s top scorer needs to get it going a little bit more than she has thus far. Valentina is very much a confidence player. She needs a goals for confidence. Another dominating performance from Manuela Giuliano a goal and an assist getting the winner wearing the armband a champion’s league display from Roma’s number 10. She truly is arguably a top five midfielder in the world and again just a stacked deck against Bayern Munich. She outplayed almost everyone wearing red. Then lastly, Evelyn Viens is already approaching double digits on the season. Eight goals so far this campaign. Proving to be one of the best deals of the summer. She was the final acquisition of the summer and she may just be the best one. A consistent goal scoring threat that we saw in Denmark to come to Italy on one of the best teams in the world and continue that form has been terrific. There’s not been a better center forward this season than Evelyn Viens When Valentina can start finding the back of the net more regularly, the two of them together will be viciously difficult to handle. PSG lost to Ajax in the other game. Showing that this point could be incredibly valuable down the line. Roma has Sassuolo at the weekend as they hope to extend their unbeaten run further. The next time in the Champions League we will see. Ajax against Roma in the capital. PSG losing somewhat ruffles the group in a different way. It’s too early to really see what the benefit of this point will end up being by the end of the group, but this was a strong courageous performance. Bayern Munich and Roma put on a thriller two of the top teams in the world showing their quality. They both played exceptionally well. It turned out to be a battle with Roma coming back and nicking a point. The moves that were made in the summer on a night like this have proven even further over their importance that Spugna has something brewing here in Rome.
