UEFA Champions League: CFR Cluj vs AS Roma – Half Time Report
The Italian side Roma had a lot at stake as they were to face CFR Cluj away from home. The Italian side had to win the game in order to qualify for the next round as the German Champions Bayern Munich had already qualified for the next round after winning
4 out of 5 games. Roma were the team who had managed to defeat the German Champions on their home ground after Francesco Totti scored on a penalty to help his team win the game.
CFR Cluj had nothing to win or lose in this game; they were barely competing for anything but they still had to show good and quality football to prove themselves. Both the sides were playing their first teams as Romans were trying to take a win away from
home in order to qualify for the next round.
The home side were playing a traditional 4-4-2 as the two holding midfielders in the centre of the pitch were there to help the defenders. It was Eduard Stancioiu who played in between the two poles as a goalkeeper and he was assisted by Cristian Panin,
Cadu, Lonut Rada and Edimar at the back. Emmanuel Kone and Emil Dica were the two holding midfielders while Dominique Kivuvu and Juan Culio played up front as wingers. Roberto De Zerbi and Lacina Traore were the two strikers for the home team.
On the other hand, the Italians played a 4-3-3 in order to get the goal that they were looking for. With Julio Sergio playing as a goalkeeper it were Marco Cassetti, Philippe Mexes, Nicolas Burdisso and Paolo Castellini who helped him at the back. Daniele
De Rossi was the one playing right behind the midfielders as a defensive/holding midfielder. Jeremy Menez played as a central midfielder with Matteo Brighi on the left wing and Fabio Simplicio on the other wing. Marco Borriello and Francesco Totti were the
two strikers as the Romans really wanted the result to be on their side.
The Italians did show that they were there to win it as they scored the first goal of the game which came during the 21st minute of the first half. It all stemmed from a terrible pass by Traore as Cluj were on the attack. Roma made a break at
real pace and Borriello finished coolly past Stancioiu as Giallorossis were leading the game by a single goal.
The first half ended well for the Italians as they were leading the game away from home, just the way they wanted. Now can the Italians capitalize and reach the pre quarter final stage of the UEFA Champions League? Well, that is a question that can be answered
after the game finishes.
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