Roma traveled to Belarus tonight, facing league winners BATE Borisov.
Despite travelling with an injury ridden squad, the Giallorossi were with high hopes of securing a win against the group minnows.
Two weeks ago, the Stadio Olimpico rose to celebrate a wonderful Alessandro Florenzi strike. He scored the equaliser, earning Roma an admiral point, against their toughest group opponents, Barcelona.
The Roma fans who traveled to Belarus tonight, suffered a slightly different set of emotions.
Once again Florenzi cemented his place in the highlight show, this time only to see his exquisite strike crashing off the bar.
It would have been a wonderful equaliser. Florenzi nearly made it 3-3 on the night. It would have rescued Roma a valuable point.
While the way Roma fought back is admirable, the shocking 3-0 deficit was a mere consequence of their utter incompetence.
There was something in the air prior to this fixture, Roma struggling felt inevitable.
The absences of Dzeko, Totti and Keita amongst others was a factor, however, with this accounted for anything but a victory was inexcusable.
Deja Vu: BATE defeated Garcia’s Lille side in the 2012/13 edition of the Champions League.
How it happened.
It took 30 minutes.
From Stasevich’s very fortunate opener, to Mladenovic’s impressive brace, Roma’s fate was sealed in just half an hour.
BATE breached the Roman defence and a scramble in the box lead to a tap in for Stasevich.
A horrific misjudgment by Wojciejch Sczecney lead to BATE’s second. His strange position in goal terrifically punished.
BATE’s third was their best. Clearly a team thriving on Roma’s naivity, Mladenovic finished sublimely to net his second of the night – impressive for their left-back.
The resilience
Roma did fight back.
A positive start to the second half was eventually rewarded. Gervinho pulled one back after some intricate play and darting run saw him latch onto Falque’s pass.
Dignie’s cross into the box then lifted the travelling Roma fans from their seats, as substitute Torosidis shoveled it into the net. 3-2 with eight minutes to play.
Then came Florenzi. His strike left the bar shaking. It wasn’t meant to be.
In-form Mohamed Salah was misfiring. First a succulent Miralem Pjainc pass found him free in the box, but his weaker right foot produced a tame finish.
Pjanic then found the Egyptian again, this time on his stronger left foot, with the goal gaping it seemed a certain that he would score – He missed the target.
Vainqueur, who replaced the injured Keita vs Carpi, along with Iturbe were virtually ineffective.
Neither lasted more than 45 minutes and watched the second half from the bench.
Falque’s introduction was a positive one, and Roma looked more dangerous, but they clearly lacked a striker tonight – a match which screamed for ‘Edin Dzeko’.
Where it leaves Roma?
Nothing is over yet.
Roma still have to play Bayer Leverkusen twice (next two matches). These were always going to be pivotal fixtures.
The German side fell to a 2-1 defeat in Spain meaning they sit only two points ahead of Garcia’s side, with both sides next two group fixtures being against each-other.
What is worrying; the psychological repercussions of this defeat.
Roma’s mental strength has been questioned before. Serie A fans will remember what the humiliation from Bayern Munich did to Roma’s form last year.
While this type of defeat is completely different, but one which could be just as detrimental.
It’s still early in the season, but the next couple of weeks could well shape Roma’s season, and Rudi Garcia’s future.
Roma will look to bounce-back with victory against Palermo in the league, this Sunday.
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