Apt thread title considering yesterday's events. Anyway, here's a huge writeup of this historic upset because that's how I deal with shit like this.
First Half
First Half
- First five minutes were OK. Passing in the MF was sloppy, but Roberto had an excellent run and chance and Messi sailed a shot he usually does better with. Dzeko and Nainggolan are pushing up high against the CBs causing our offense some problems and hurting possession. Semedo's push on Kolarov was almost a pen, but I still think the ref got it correct.
- The first goal. The tactics obviously involved some element of playing a deep line and compact formation. Roma has the ball at midfield and get a clear chance to serve a nice ball over the top. Alba gets pushed off the ball by Dzeko who is strong. Sam is late to get over and takes a bad angle. Overall, nice play by Dzeko but what was Sam thinking/doing?
- Roma's press continues to cause our backline problems. Pique oddly continues to avoid passing to Semedo. Roberto is playing very centrally and we have no width to the right. Messi is dropping deep. When Barca press forward, Roma can't handle it all that well, but Dzeko makes a good target. Roma buzzes a corner and is an ominous sign in retrospect.
- Barca are playing more long balls than I can ever remember. Roma are playing very physical and we cannot build any rhythm. Ter Stegen's passing looks off.
- Barca finally seem to be settling down a bit in possession, but it's clear the match is more physical than Barca would like. Messi is dropping deep and the team's spacing is allowing the Roma press to flourish. Pique makes a brilliant saving tackle off a turnover.
- Match lacking any real rhythm, likely by design by Roma. Schick finds space between the CBs for a free header but hits it wide. Both Sam and Pique napping and likely not communicating well. Sam has looked a bit rattled so far. The midfield has also been too flat at times getting bypassed easily. Roma is switching the point of attack quickly and it's giving Barca fits. Roma still pressing with 4-5 players on our defensive line and MF. Pique with another huge tackle in the box.
- Suarez seeing very little of the ball in the first half. Alba hasn't been able to get forward. Barca playing direct with terrible results. Roma continue to maul our players in MF, but nothing quite approaching cautionable offenses other than quantity. Barca clearly struggling to defend crosses as Dzeko gets a close header forcing a nice TS save and Kolarov gets a free header but misses it on the ensuing corner.
- Roberto is the third target man up to along with Messi and Suarez but the spacing on the right is a mess. Busi is on that side taking space from Semedo, Semedo and Roberto are too close, and Messi is on that flank too. None of the MFs are getting forward and central.
- No changes for either side.
- Barca's spacing has improved a bit and Roberto is defending a bit higher up, but we already see Roma being physical in the middle and Dzeko providing superb target play. Alba and Rakitic also pushing up higher when defending. Suarez already seeing more of the ball. Ter Stegen hasn't connected on a pass over 20 yards.
- Rakitic mis-hits a goal kick in MF, Busi unlucky to be out of position, and a terrific ball over the top puts Dzeko and Pique into a fight. Penalty was fair. Hard to blame Pique on that. Roberto was very high up the pitch and so was Iniesta, but really just unfortunate bounces in addition to excellent direct play by Roma. Hard to see much fault there.
- Physical play continues and if this were a La Liga match, Fazio would've been booked for his foul against Iniesta at minute 58. It's not though.
- Match has opened up and Barca are finally finding some space going forward. However, Barca have still been really sloppy with their passing. Roma has clearly studied Barca's passing patterns and are forcing the ball to the sidelines and closing down quickly. When they get the ball, they get it forward to Dzeko ASAP.
- De Rossi just misses with a header over Alba. Barca are able to assert some possession, but the spaces Roma leaves are behind the defense and Barca cannot connect. Paging Dembouz...but instead, Under makes his way on for Schick.
- Beginning at roughly 70', Barca are able to get some traction in MF and Messi gets an attempt on goal. Roma players are no longer bombing forward on the counter. This would've been the time to make some subs and make sure the players had enough energy to see this out. Meanwhile, El Shaarawy comes on for Nainggolan as EV doesn't sub yet.
- Barca has their best spell of possession all match, but Messi can't get the ball out from under him to get the shot attempt. I bet EV was thinking, "Now that there's space in the offensive third, I'm going to keep Iniesta on so we can get this goal." Not saying I agree, but Iniesta was always going to be the first to come off.
- TS makes his great save. Roberto has been running his legs off all match and even if you like his skillset for the tactics, he's clearly gassed and not giving much cover anymore. Iniesta comes off for Gomes. I actually don't have a problem with this as Iniesta was gassed, and Gomes should help defend Roma's height. Gomes and Alba immediately have communication issues. Roberto is pushing high to give Messi space underneath. If you're going to do this, it has to be Dembouz and not Roberto. This is the crucial piece and the biggest criticism of EV this match.
- Semedo gets beat to the near post. What can you say? Barca don't defend corners well and Roma was giving Barca fits on crosses all match. Excellent header from a difficult angle. In zonal marking, you would put someone on the small box towards the corner, but no one marks zonally on corners anymore. Should never have come to that anyway.
- Dembouz on for Semedo. Even though Roberto was exhausted. Don't know why EV did it this way. Don't think it matters. Paco on for Busi. Whatever.
