Europa League: Roma-Porto will be the playoff match, with the derby in the background

Nyon 31 January 2025 – The ballot boxes of the Uefa they talked and by virtue of the results of the championship phase of this Europe League, have decreed as the Rome will have to face the Harbour in the play-offs to qualify for the round of 16. The Giallorossi, who finished fifteenth in the overall standings, had the option of facing the Portuguese or the Ferencvaros and in the end Lady Luck didn't smile on Ranieri and his boys. In front of them the Capitoline team will certainly not have the strongest version of the recent past of the Dragoes, but this does not mean that we can underestimate the commitment. The Portuguese team in the championship phase has scored 13 goals, has conceded a total of 11, in a path consisting of 3 victories, 2 draws and 3 defeats. Curiosity of fate, during the path the Harbour he also faced the Lazio, falling 2-1 against their cousins ​​in white and blue. 

Roma's previous encounters with Portuguese teams

Il Harbour was the first historic Portuguese rival in the history of the Giallorossi. The first historic crossing dates back to the distant 1981-82, then it was the second round of the Cup Winners' Cup and the Capitoline side lost the away match 2-0, before then not going beyond a 0-0 draw in the return match, and were then eliminated from the competition. It was the beginning of a historically complicated relationship against Portuguese teams by the Rome. There are a total of four Portuguese teams faced by the Giallorossi in their history and in addition to the Harbour they count Benfica, Sporting Lisbon e Vitoria Setubal. Fourteen is the total number of matches faced by the Romans against Portuguese teams: the overall balance is 5 wins, 5 draws and 4 defeats. Specifically against Porto, however, the balance is much more negative and counts a heavy zero in the victories section, with two draws and two defeats in as many eliminations from the continental cups.

The focus on the Port

Compared to the recent past, as previously written, the Harbour is going through a phase of renewal. For the first time in five years outside the Champions League, the Dragoes have not won the title in their homeland since the 2021-22 season and in recent days they have met a new coach. Having said goodbye Conceiçao in the summer, today on the bench of the Milan, Victor Bruno He was the man chosen to restart, but this week he was relieved of his duties, in favor of the Argentine Martin AnselmiThe South American coach earned his place in this knockout stage with difficulty, beating the Maccabi Tel Aviv narrowly won on neutral ground in Belgrade. Currently in the championship the Harbour is second arm in arm with the Benfica five points behind Sporting Lisbon.

The team has many talented players and with an average age of 25,2 years a fairly young squad. What is missing seems to be a pinch of mix, with a lot of quality but little leadership on the field for the white and blues. The cover man of the team is undoubtedly the impressive striker born in 2004 Samu Agheowa Omorodion, arrived in the summer fromAtletico Madrid. A centre forward with an imposing physique, he is also gifted with great sensitivity with the ball at his feet. Samu's talent in the penalty area is well supported by players of the calibre of Pepe, Goncalo Borges e Fabio Vieira in three-quarters. The solidity in the middle is entrusted to the quality of Varela, while in defense we can see several players familiar with Italian football such as the former Udinese player Nehuen Perez and the ex Juve Tiago DjaloIn goal is the goalkeeper of the Portuguese national team Diogo Cantabrian.

Historical notes

Born way back in 1893, the Harbour is a Portuguese multi-sports club, founded by António Nicolau de Almeida. Today the club has as its president the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager André Vilas Boas. In its history the Harbour has collected a gigantic list of trophies with 30 titles first LeagueLa Javie, 20 Portugal CupsLa Javie, 1 Portuguese League Cup and 24 Supercups of Portogallo. Despite this illustrious trophy cabinet, they are currently the most successful team in the country ahead of Benfica, although the Lisbon team has won the competition several times first League (38 times). The Dragoes also boast a much richer palmares at European level, having won the Champions League (Champions Cup) twice in their history, the second time thanks to the double ex Jose Mourinho. To this the Portuguese extend 2 Europa League (Uefa Cup), 1 European Super Cup and 2 Intercontinental Cups.