Now when I started Osservando I said to myself I will not cover Italian teams in European competitions. Then I watched Roma turn over Brighton 4-0 at home before going to the Amex and producing a ‘dark arts’ masterclass to go through 4-1 on aggregate. I changed my mind.

The way Roma played away from home has to be applauded. The Giallorossi turned up to Brighton knowing the 30,000 seater Amex stadium would be spurring Brighton on for an offensive assault. Brighton being 4-0 down needed an early goal for any chance of completing a turnaround similar to Roma’s legendary comeback vs Barcelona in 2018. From minute one Roma made life difficult both tactically and with their on the pitch behaviour.

De Rossi’s tactical tweaks

Tactically Roma set up differently. Out of possession they set up in a low block with Azmoun and Baldanzi pressing the Brighton defence. That being said the most interesting thing I took from this game is how Roma neutralised the threat from wide areas.

Defensively, on the left Roma started Leonardo Spinazzola left back and youngster Nicola Zalewski in at left wing. Both of these are extremely good offensively but more importantly, Zalewski offers more defensive soundness than the like of Stephen El Shaarawy. This meant that Brightons attacking options coming down the right were limited as Zalewski did a good job of neutralising the offensive threat of Tariq Lamptey as the two worked well all night to counteract this danger.

However, more interestingly was the utilisation of Eduardo Bove and Tommaso Baldanzi. Bove started in the centre of the park alongside Cristante and Pellegrini. Baldanzi started in the ‘Dybala’ role of starting on the right but having license to roam. Out of possession these two switched, with Baldanzi coming inside to press the Brighton defence and close down in front of Pellegrini and Cristante. Bove, who is much more adept defensively than Baldanzi, went out to the right wing. This switch worked perfectly with Bove cutting out the threat of the dangerous Estupiñán as well as doubling up and supporting Cęlik in facing Julio Enciso. This little tweak meant a lot and changed the whole game and Brighton’s game plan.

The switch forced Brighton to play the way Roma wanted, through the middle. With Cristante and Pellegrini facing Lallana and Groß it was a mismatch in quality. This player switch and emphasis on cutting out the wings also made the job of marking Danny Welbeck much easier. In the first leg Brighton’s best moments came from Ariel crosses from out wide into Welbeck who had the beating of Roma’s centre backs. Neutralising this threat proved the difference defensively with Brighton only registering 8/28 crosses as successful (29%). These tactical tweaks and switches from De Rossi no doubt helped him and his team get one over on De Zerbi and the Seagulls.

The art of not playing fair

During the game Roma committed 13 fouls, most of these within their own half and with the aim of disrupting Brighton’s buildup play and stopping counter attacks. Roma also saw 5 players get booked, two were listed as bookings for time wasting. These actions by Roma meant that Brighton never got going and when they did threaten, Roma had the defensive nouse to combat the threat.

Roma made the game dirty. Mancini got an early 12th minute booking for a cynical foul as he wiped out the dangerous Julio Enciso. Then just a few minutes later he antagonises the young Van De Hecke before going down under minimal contact clutching his face- resulting in a lengthy VAR check and disrupting a Brighton free kick routine. When they were tackled Roma players were going down easy, rolling around on the floor in ‘agony’ and getting in the officials face demanding cards and pleading their case. Further up the pitch Cristante escaped the referees gaze as he kicked out at Groß off the ball and Pellegrini wound up the Brighton side all night as he was fouled 3 times and got in a Brighton players (or officials) face more times than I can count. It’s these things that helped Roma’s game-plan of cutting down time, preventing Brighton from overwhelming them defensively. Ultimately Roma not playing fair made life hell for Brighton (and referee Felix Zwayer) and helped Roma walk into the quarter finals and prevent a major major upset.

Love it or hate it this way of getting wins works- especially over two legs. Roma were the master of it in this round of 16 draw. Combined with some excellent tactical tweaks from De Rossi as well as experience in this competition. It’s no wonder De Rossi’s men went through.They’ll already be looking ahead to the Europa League quarter finals where they face AC Milan on the 11th and 18th of April.