Roma v Manchester City: Champions League – as it happened

http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2014/dec/10/roma-v-manchester-city-champions-league-live

Version 0 of 1.

9.35pm GMT21:35

CITY QUALIFY FOR THE ROUND OF 16!!! Roma 0-2 Manchester City

They’ve made an unnecessary drama of it, one could argue, but that’ll make progress taste all the sweeter! City are through, after a stunning late comeback against Bayern Munich, and a brilliant second-half performance at Roma. They’re in the hat for the knockout stages, while Roma will have to settle for the Europa League. Richly deserved success for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who comprehensively won at the Stadio Olimpico tonight without their main man Sergio Aguero. Samir Nasri stepped up to the plate, with a scorching goal and an assist. So yes, perhaps this is the season City finally fall head over heels in love with the European Cup...

Updated at 9.38pm GMT

9.33pm GMT21:33

90 min: Jovetic nutmegs Nainggolan in the middle, then slips the ball forward for Milner, who on the edge of the box miscontrols and can’t quite bust clear. A chance spurned, but this is over, and City care not a jot.

9.31pm GMT21:31

88 min: This has been a thoroughly professional performance by City. Sparkling at times in this second half. Having held Roma in the first, they’ve done a number on their hosts. Superlative. Nasri, the star of the show, comes off, with Kolarov coming on.

9.30pm GMT21:30

GOAL! Roma 0-2 Manchester City (Zabaleta 86)

Silva throws an outrageous dummy down the left to release Jovetic into space. He checks back and returns the ball to Silva, who whips a low cross over towards Nasri down the inside-right. Nasri holds the ball up a second, then slips it to Zabaleta, who is romping at speed into the box. Zabaleta takes a touch and pelts a low shot into the centre of the net - and City are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League! Who’d have thought they’d be celebrating a goal like this, when 2-1 down against Bayern Munich the other week with three minutes or so to play?!

Updated at 9.44pm GMT

9.27pm GMT21:27

84 min: Bayern Munich are now 2-0 up against CSKA. City simply need to avoid shipping two goals in the next six minutes, plus stoppages, and they’re through to the next round.

9.24pm GMT21:24

82 min: Roma are doing very little to heap pressure on City. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have been, a rocky first ten minutes or so apart, mightily impressive tonight. In fact, they’ve done particularly well to bounce back from that. The home supporters are whistling a lot. Music to City’s ears.

9.21pm GMT21:21

79 min: A deep left-wing cross finds Gervinho in the middle, ten yards out. Gervinho sends a decent header looping towards the top left, but Hart claws it out well, and deals with the loose ball too. And in any case Gervinho was about a yard offside. The flag goes up. As does the board, signalling the end of Maicon’s night. He’s replaced by Florenzi.

9.20pm GMT21:20

78 min: Dzeko is replaced by Jovetic.

9.20pm GMT21:20

77 min: City triangulate awhile down the left wing, running down the clock nicely. Eventually Dzeko attempts to dance all the way down the channel and towards the box, but no luck. He’s crowded out. Nearly, nearly.

9.17pm GMT21:17

74 min: Nasri is booked for some brazen time-wasting. Jose Mourinho would be proud.

9.17pm GMT21:17

72 min: And then Roma nearly score, not once, but twice! First Manolas rises above Magala and plants a header, won at a free kick sent in from the right, onto the City right-hand post! Then, from the resulting corner, the ball drops to Destro, ten yards out and level with the left-hand post. He swivels to shoot goalwards, and it’s going in, but hits Demichelis on the line! Claims that a hand’s been used, but the referee’s having none of it. Another corner for Roma, but this one passes without incident. Roma so very unlucky!

9.13pm GMT21:13

70 min: Ljajic springs from his seat and throws a water bottle onto the floor with great forcefulness and expression. He’s not considered that Roma still have plenty of time, has he? Totti is replaced by Destro. Nothing much going down on the pitch right now.

9.12pm GMT21:12

69 min: Ljajic is sitting on the Roma bench, his face buried into his coat, which sits on the platform of his hands. A picture of despair. He’ll do well to consider that Roma still have plenty of time to score the two goals that’d see them through. One more for City, of course, and it’s as good as over for them.

9.09pm GMT21:09

67 min and a bit: That was Ljajic’s last contribution. He’s hooked in favour of Juan Manuel Iturbe, while City swap Jesus Navas for the returning David Silva.

9.09pm GMT21:09

67 min: Ljajic twists and turns down the left, sending Zabaleta sliding away on his arse. He’s worked himself a bit of space in the City area, but batters a hopeless shot miles over the bar. He should at least have worked Hart there.

9.07pm GMT21:07

65 min: Nainggolan has a dig from a central position, 30 yards out. It’s a hell of a strike, a blistering affair, but straight at Hart, who tips away.

9.06pm GMT21:06

64 min: Dzeko has acres of grass to run into down the left, the ball at his feet, but he suddenly turns into the second coming of Sean Dundee. Roma swarm around him and the opportunity to tear clear towards the box is gone.

9.05pm GMT21:05

63 min: To be fair to Milner and Dzeko, they weren’t failing to show for Nasri. Nothing opened up, is all, as they tried to offer themselves for a sliderule pass down the inside left. And they confused Roma to the extent that Nasri wasn’t closed down. He still had it all to do, though. Wow, that was some whack. Nasri is a magnificent player, though that’s hardly news.

9.04pm GMT21:04

WHAT A GOAL!!! Roma 0-1 Manchester City (Nasri 60)

This is an astonishing strike! Nasri takes up possession on the left, and drifts inside, waiting for someone to make a run, so he can make a sliderule pass to bust them into the box. But nobody shows. No matter! Roma don’t close Nasri down, and he’s able to take a couple of touches inside, before belting an unstoppable strike towards the top-left corner. De Sanctis is beaten. Only the post can save Roma, but it doesn’t, the ball bouncing off the inside of the woodwork at the highest of velocities and into the net! Sheer brilliance by Nasri, and City are going through as things stand. Roma need to score twice if they’re to save themselves.

Updated at 9.53pm GMT

9.00pm GMT21:00

58 min: Roma wake from their slumber. Firstly Gervinho takes out a little frustration from that tackle with a determined run down the right, his power cross nearly causing City palpitations. It’s cleared. But the home side are soon coming back at the visitors, Pjanic pelting towards the bottom left from 30 yards. A thunderous strike which Hart gets down to parry clear with no little brilliance. Lovely football all round.

8.59pm GMT20:59

56 min: Fernandinho slides in to rip the ball away from the feet of Gervinho. It’s an old-fashioned blood-and-thunder tackle, and a good one in my book (which was published in 1893) but you’ve seen yellow cards given in modern Europe for those. Lucky Fernandinho.

8.57pm GMT20:57

55 min: Nainggolan skittles Nasri to the floor, 40 yards out, in the middle of the park. The ball’s lifted into the Roma area, where Dzeko heads weakly wide right. City are on top, though De Sanctis has had little to do.

8.56pm GMT20:56

53 min: Fernandinho and Nasri combine well down the City left, the latter skipping past Nainggolan and lumping a cross into the centre. It’s cleared, but City are soon coming back at Roma, Clichy pinging another cross in from the same flank. The ball’s bundled out of a stramash (RIP Arthur Montford) and away, but City are turning up the heat a little.

8.54pm GMT20:54

51 min: A belting atmosphere in the Stadio Olimpico! The home fans are giving it plenty. And the volume increases as Maicon earns a corner off Clichy down the right. The set piece looks like coming to naught, but City fail to clear properly, and Ljajic romps into space down the right and whips a cross into the box that’s only just dealt with by Mangala and a pair of iron eyebrows which help the ball away from danger. Pjanic chests down on the left-hand corner of the area, but his shot is blocked at source.

8.51pm GMT20:51

48 min: Fernando pitching-wedges a pass down the left to release Milner into space. Milner attempts a bizarro Marco van Basten from a tight angle, but wangs the dropping ball high and wide left of goal. It would seem City have identified a point of weakness down this flank.

8.50pm GMT20:50

47 min: Gervinho looks to break clear down the right, but he’s miles offside. He performs a pantomime jig of pique nevertheless, which is nice to see.

8.49pm GMT20:49

The teams are out again - no changes - and we’re off! City get things moving once more. A lot of whistling as they pass it around the back for 20 seconds or so. And a few sharp intakes of breath as Fernando slides a ball down the inside left channel to release Dzeko into the Roma box! He could have a shot from a tight angle, but opts to look for someone in the middle instead. Bad choice, because there’s nobody in blue waiting to bundle home. Instead Dzeko settles for a corner, which is a complete non-event. But that’s a decent start to the half for City, who - bottom line - need to score to stay in this competition.

8.35pm GMT20:35

Half-time advertisement:

“The wonder of numbers never ends.”

8.33pm GMT20:33

HALF TIME: Roma 0-0 Manchester City

And that’s that for the half. Brilliant entertainment for the first half hour, and not much else. Roma are in the box seat for qualification, with CSKA losing in Munich, but City - currenlty bound for the Europa League - have slowly got on top in this game, frustrating Roma, and are in a good position to strike in the second half.

8.31pm GMT20:31

43 min: Dzeko and Yanga-Mbiwa are both booked for extreme childishness, some minor nonsense in the middle of the park.

8.30pm GMT20:30

41 min: A bit of City possession in the Roma half. Dzeko rolls a pass down the right for Navas, whose high cross is dealt with easily enough by Yanga-Mbiwa. Roma fly up the other end through Gervinho, who embarks on a slalom down the middle then goes over on the edge of the area under... well... not much of a challenge, really. He claims a penalty, but not with too much vigour. Very little contact, with Demichelis, Milner and Fernando standing around looking as innocent as they can.

8.26pm GMT20:26

39 min: And suddenly both sides nearly score! First Totti, from a deep position on the left, rakes a long ball down the inside-right channel to release Gervinho! But the resulting shot, taken from the edge of the area, is slightly scuffed, and Hart saves well. Then up the other end Milner is sent into the Roma area down the right by a lovely Navas clip. De Sanctis is out quickly to smother, and the resulting corner comes to naught. So close, at both ends!

8.24pm GMT20:24

38 min: Hart gathers a fairly simple long range shot by Gervinho. All a bit ho-hum right now.

8.23pm GMT20:23

36 min: Fernando battles well in the middle of the park and looks to loop one down the inside-right channel to release Navas into space. Offside. There’s a bit of a lull at the moment, certainly in relation to the opening 30 minutes, which were breezy and open, both teams showing purpose in attack. “Very impressed so far with the calm defensive presence of both Mangala and Fernando,” writes JR in Illinois. “Not a single flying karate kick to the coccyx or ax kick to the cranium thus far.”

8.20pm GMT20:20

33 min: A bit more possession for Roma, but they’re doing little with it. A marked contrast to the early exchanges. City have done really well to work their way into this game.

8.18pm GMT20:18

30 min: Holebas pushes City back down the left, and wins another corner. Pjanic loops the set piece into the six-yard box. Hart punches clear with purpose.

8.15pm GMT20:15

28 min: Navas drops a shoulder down the right, and whips a cross into the centre. Dzeko’s header slides across the face of goal and out on the left. Less noise pouring down from the stands now, so City have won that early battle. A goal either way is likely to change everything, of course.

8.14pm GMT20:14

27 min: A corner down the right for City. Easily cleared by Yanga-Mbiwa, but that’s not really the point. The visitors, after a shaky start, are beginning to impose themselves on this game.

8.13pm GMT20:13

26 min: Navas has the ball in the Roma net, lashing home from the right-hand corner of the D. But play had stopped, Dzeko’s header down the result of some over-excitable tussling.

8.10pm GMT20:10

24 min: Nasri breaks down the inside-right channel, slid free by Navas. A low ball into the centre is hoicked over the bar from close range by Dzeko. Three rugby points, but they’re no good to anyone tonight.

8.07pm GMT20:07

21 min: Milner cuts in from the left and batters a shot straight at De Sanctis. A decent enough shot, a decent enough save. Roma zip straight upfield through Gervinho, who twists and turns, shimmies and shakes, down the inside-right channel, and lashes a low shot towards the bottom left. Hart gets fingertips to the ball, turning it round the post for a corner, then claims the set piece without fuss. Magnificent goalkeeping from Hart.

8.06pm GMT20:06

18 min: Well, as things stand, the rather complicated qualification ready reckoner has just got a little simpler. That’s because a Thomas Muller penalty has given Bayern Munich the lead against CSKA, so it’s winner takes all here. A goalless draw, however, isn’t good enough for City; they need a score draw at least. So Roma going through as of now. A mere 72 minutes to go. Plus stoppages.

8.04pm GMT20:04

17 min: Nasri bursts down the middle of the park at speed, before stroking a pass towards Jesus Navas on the right. The resulting low cross evades Fernandinho in the Roma six-yard box. Milner, to the left of goal, tries to keep the move going by pulling the ball back from the byline, but Roma hack clear. They zip up the other end, Pjanic gliding in from the left wing and blootering a hopeless shot over the bar from 25 yards. It’s a nice open game, this.

8.00pm GMT20:00

14 min: Clichy is sent into a little space down the left by Nasri. His cross finds the head of Dzeko, ten yards out. Or is it the striker’s left shoulder he finds? Either way, the ball balloons out of play, harmlessly wide left and high of the target.

7.59pm GMT19:59

13 min: City are calming things down a little, stroking it around the middle of the park, quelling Roma’s ardour. It’s a wise tactic. Mangala gets fed up and opts to spray a long ball down the left with a view to springing Nasri clear, but it’s easily cut out.

7.58pm GMT19:58

11 min: Clichy makes good down the inside-left channel and slips a pass forward for Dzeko, who would have been clear on goal had he bent his run in the Ian Rush style rather than the Oleg Salenko fashion.

7.57pm GMT19:57

10 min: Roma are winning the majority of 50-50s in the middle of the park, and enjoying the lion’s share of possession. The wolf’s share, perhaps. Gervinho skitters around the middle of the park, drops a shoulder, nudges the ball a little to the right, and looks to pearl one into the top right from 30 yards. It’s nowhere near. The home fans are, however, happy with their side’s start. City look a little flustered, they need to dig in.

7.54pm GMT19:54

7 min: City buzz around the Roma area down the left, but Nasri and Clichy can’t prise the home team open. A little something to redress the early balance.

7.53pm GMT19:53

6 min: It’s been all Roma so far. Totti rakes a pass down the right for Ljajic, who nearly breaks clear but checks back. The ball’s sprayed left for Holebas, who bursts into the box and finds himself one on one with Hart! He takes an age to get his shot away, and the keeper smothers rather brilliantly. City pay no heed to the danger, allowing Nainggolan to romp down the left wing in Roma’s very next attack. His low cross is for Gervinho in the centre, but hacked clear by Mangala. An ominous 60 seconds of action. City need to get their gamefaces on, and quick.

7.49pm GMT19:49

3 min: The first corner of the game - won by Gervinho and Manolas as they combine down the inside left - is battered straight into the side netting. There’s a wonderful atmosphere in the Stadio Olimpico, silly buggers with light pens notwithstanding.

7.48pm GMT19:48

And we’re off! Roma get the ball rolling, knock it around the back awhile, and eventually trundle it out of play down the right. City’s first touch will be a throw, and as Clichy prepares to launch it, he’s pestered by a light pen, buzzing all around his coupon. Eventually the prankster gets tired of the joke, and we move on.

7.46pm GMT19:46

As the Champions League theme tune blares out of the PA and the teams are forced to endure it, the camera runs along the line. The mascots wave and scream at the camera, hello, hello, hello! It’s a lovely scene, the little kids enjoying themselves, the time of their lives. So often mascots are made to stand statue-still, in silence. I’m sure Uefa will clamp down on this in due course.

7.43pm GMT19:43

The teams are out! Roma wear their beautiful imperial purple/yellow/white combo, while City are in their equally lovely powder blue. Strong looks, a classic aesthetic. We’ll be on our way in a minute!

6.54pm GMT18:54

The teams

Roma: De Sanctis, Maicon, Manolas, Yanga-Mbiwa, Holebas, Ljajic, Nainggolan, Keita, Gervinho, Pjanic, Totti.Subs: Curci, Strootman, Iturbe, De Rossi, Destro, Astori, Florenzi.

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Fernando, Milner, Nasri, Dzeko.Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Kolarov, Lampard, Silva, Jovetic, Boyata.

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia).

6.42pm GMT18:42

The qualification facts, as much as we can ever know them:

I think that’s right. I think. So long as Manuel Turing-Pellegrini’s got a handle on all the permutations, that’s the main thing, eh.

Updated at 7.08pm GMT

6.00pm GMT18:00

Sometimes there’s an instant click. Take Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in the Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life (dir. Frank Capra, 1946, b&w). One look, bang, it’s on! It’s been the same with some English football clubs and the European Cup. Manchester United in the 1950s: love at first sight. Shankly’s Liverpool and Revie’s Leeds both embraced the competition with a passion that lingers down the ages. And things escalated pretty quickly once Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa enjoyed their first kisses, too.

Other times, initial relations are distinctly more frosty. Take Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan in the Christmas classic The Shop Around the Corner (dir. Ernst Lubitsch, 1940, b&w). From the get-go, they simply could not get along! It’s been the same with some English football clubs and the European Cup. Wolverhampton Wanderers couldn’t make eye contact in the late Fifties. Catterick’s Everton never found love. Arsenal long flattered to deceive, always failing to deliver on promises. Blackburn Rovers slobbered like a Bordeaux Mastiff during their first smooch. And Chelsea couldn’t even be bothered to turn up to the first date in 1955! How rude!

Manchester City are firmly in the second camp. They crashed out at the first hurdle on their first attempt, Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison’s champions losing to Fenerbahçe in 1968, and have achieved very little since. Out in the groups in 2011. Out in the groups in 2012. Out of the group in 2013, but immediately sent packing in the Round of 16. There just hasn’t been a spark.

But this year, perhaps, something’s changed. City looked down and out a fortnight ago, trailing Bayern Munich at home with three minutes remaining, needing a win to stay alive. Then Sergio Aguero scored twice at the death. Now a win in Roma – not exactly easy against Serie A’s second-placed team, but not a pipe dream given the meal the giallorossi made of a home draw against mid-table Sassuolo at the weekend – will guarantee them passage into the knockout stages again, providing CSKA Moscow fail to win in Munich. What a feelgood Christmas fairytale that would be! And from then on, in the New Year, with the currently injured Aguero back to full fitness and firing on all cylinders again, who knows? A European Cup finally for City? Why not? Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan fell into each other’s arms in the end, after all.

Kick off: 8.45pm in the dream city of Rome, 7.45pm in Manchester. And remember, every time a referee blows his whistle, an angel gets its wings.