Champions League as it happened: Roma completes stunning comeback against Barcelona; Liverpool rolls over Manchester City
Two of the UEFA Champions League semifinalists were confirmed Tuesday, with Roma eliminating Barcelona and Liverpool knocking out English rival Manchester City.
In Rome, the hosts had to overcome a 4-1 deficit from the first leg and did just that, winning 3-0 to go through on away goals. Edin Dzeko scored just minutes into the match, Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty early in the second half and Kostas Manolas scored his side’s third with less than 10 minutes left.
In Manchester, things looked great for City out of the gate, with Gabriel Jesus scoring in the second minute. The hosts squandered a number of good chances, and Liverpool would go on to score twice in the second half to put the tie out of reach, a 5-1 final on aggregate.
Kostas Manolas seals historic Roma comeback to send Barcelona out
There cannot have been many better celebrations at this stadium. One glance off Kostas Manolas’s head was enough to spark scenes of utter bedlam. The Roma coaches and substitutes had all leapt off the bench to join in, it was barely possible to hear yourself think and Barcelona were stunned.
They had been reduced to such a state of desperation that Lionel Messi, the world’s greatest player, had been reduced to hacking at Aleksandar Kolarov. Luis Suárez’s main contribution was picking up a booking for timewasting and in the end Barcelona’s third consecutive exit in the quarter-finals came in the most incredible circumstances.
Roma had trailed 4-1 from the first leg, yet they were inspired by Edin Dzeko and Manolas’s header was enough to take them through on away goals and into their first European Cup semi-final since 1984.
“Mission Impossible,” was the headline in one Italian newspaper, yet the locals sought to disguise that air of pessimism by making the atmosphere as intimidating as possible and any hope Barcelona had of silencing the deafening Roman din went out of the window after six minutes.
Barcelona dumped out of Champions League after stunning Roma turnaround
Roma secured a dramatic 3-0 victory over Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico to book their place in the Champions League semi-finals on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate result.
Trailing 4-1 after the first leg, Roma went ahead on the night after six minutes as Edin Dzeko latched on to Daniele de Rossi’s long-range pass before poking the ball beyond Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
De Rossi doubled their lead from the penalty spot after Dzeko had been brought down in the box early in the second half and Kostas Manolas headed in late on to clinch Roma’s spot in the final four.
Barcelona blows 4-1 first-leg lead as Roma advances in Champions League
Roma reached the semifinals of the Champions League with a stunning 3-0 win over Barcelona to secure an improbable aggregate win on away goals.
The Giallorossi had trailed 4-1 after the first leg, but they blew LaLiga’s leading side away at the Stadio Olimpico as goals from Edin Dzeko, Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas clinched a dramatic triumph.
Dzeko was sublime throughout and netted early before winning a penalty after the break for De Rossi to pull Roma to within one goal of the last four.
An out-of-sorts Barca still looked as though they would do enough to scrape through as chances came and went for the hosts, but Manolas – who, like De Rossi, had put through his own net at Camp Nou – headed home eight minutes from time to put Eusebio Di Francesco’s side in the driving seat.
Although the visitors suddenly mustered a challenge, they could not force a decisive goal and Lionel Messi and co crashed out in scarcely believable circumstances.
Roma last reached the last four of Europe’s premier club competition in 1983-84 when they lost to Liverpool in the final, and they will now fancy their chances against anyone – including the Reds and former star Mohamed Salah, who defeated Manchester City in Tuesday’s other quarterfinal.
Roma send Barcelona crashing out of Europe
Roma knock Barca out of Champions League with stunning comeback
ROME — Roma pulled off an extraordinary comeback to knock Barcelona out of the Champions League on Tuesday, winning 3-0 at home to reach the semifinals by overturning a three-goal deficit from the first leg.
Roma advanced on away goals despite losing 4-1 in the first leg of the quarterfinals.
Centre back Kostas Manolas scored the decisive goal with a header from a corner in the 82nd minute amid a deafening atmosphere inside the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco acknowledged before the match that his team needed a “miracle” to advance, and they got the start they needed when when Edin Dzeko controlled an over-the-top pass between two defenders after six minutes and poked in his sixth goal in this season’s competition.
Then near the hour mark, Dzeko earned a penalty that Daniele De Rossi converted to set the stage for Manolas’ late header.
Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez hardly threatened as Roma dominated possession for long stretches and stifled the Catalan club with high pressure.
Roma capitalized on its aerial threat through Dzeko and Patrik Schick and its stifling defence forced Barcelona into a series of uncharacteristic misplaced passes.
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