AS Roma will travel to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 of 2017/18, Thursday (22/2). Rome will try to erase the bitter memories of the past.
Prior to this, Roma met Shakhtar in the 2010/11 Champions League season. at that time, they also met in the big 16. Roma were eliminated with a 2-6-0 aggregate after losing 2-3 in Ukraine and 0-3 at the Olimpico in the second leg.
Prior to that, Roma and Shakhtar also met in the group phase of the 2006/07 season. roma beat Shakhtar 4-0 at the Olimpico, but was beaten 0-1 when they travel to Ukraine.
Roma have always lost in their last three matches against Shakhtar. Rome would want to break the negative streak.
Shakhtar qualify for the last 16 as Group F runners-upin the group phase this season, Shakhtar won all three home games (2-1 vs. Napoli, 3-1 vs Feyenoord, 2-1 vs Manchester City). Paulo Fonseca's troops were a threat to Rome.
But foster children Eusebio Di Francesco also can not be underestimated. got through seven games without a win, then they won the last three games.
Verona, Benevento and Udinese in a row they defeated in Serie A. There is one name that stole the attention of the three games, namely Cengiz Under. he scored one goal against Verona, two contra Benevento and one against Udinese.
Under is believed to be installed as a starter against Shakhtar. He will be struggling with Radja Nainggolan and Diego Perotti to provide optimum support for Edin Dzeko in the Roman attack.
Rome's preparations for this match are ripe.
The order of Players :
Shakhtar (4-2-3-1): Pyatov; Ismaily, Rakitskiy, Ordets, Butko; Stepanenko, Fred; Bernard, Taison, Marlos; Ferreyra.
Rome (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Kolarov, Fazio, Manolas, Florenzi; Strootman, De Rossi; Perotti, Nainggolan, Under; Dzeko.
