Fuseini paired with Ivanovic in attack
At the level of the basic eleven, Sébastien Pocognoli decided to associate Fusein has Ivanovic in attack. While Vanhoutte, Believe me et Khalaili were lined up in the middle of the game. Niang et Tools surveyed the flanks and the defense was composed of Sykes, Burgess et Mac Allister. You die was, of course, in the goals. Giallorossi side, the Croatian coach Juric (already under an ejection seat) decided to put the Argentinian star Paulo Dybala on the bench, for the benefit of Shomurodovwhich was supported by Pellegrini et Baldanzi. The French Kone et The Fairy were associated in the heart of the game while Mancini, Angelino et Cristante form the defense. To the goal Mile Svilar made his big return to Belgium since his departure from Sporting d’Anderlecht.
Unexploited stopped phases
The Union was directly highlighted. After good anticipation, Khalaili tried his luck from afar but his shot went over the target (2nd). The first minutes were rather to the advantage of the Brussels residents even if both teams were well in place. Just before the quarter of an hour, Moris had to make a first effort to repel a strike from Baldanzi, but he was flagged offside (11th). In these first twenty minutes, the Romans made a lot of mistakes but the Union did not take advantage of these set phases despite having size in the team with Sykes and Burgess. The first real opposing danger came just after the half-hour mark. Alone at the far post on a corner, Pellegrini volleyed but Moris caught the ball without difficulty (33rd). Niang responded with the first shot on target from what appeared to be a cross but Svilar pushed the ball away for a corner (39th). At rest, the two teams were back-to-back after 45 balanced minutes and a lot of offensive waste.
Two goalkeeper errors, two goals
The match got heated at the start of the second half. The Romans hit the post of Moris who narrowly deflected a superb shot. The Italians seemed to return from the locker room with ambitions other than a draw (51st). Increasingly insistent, the Romans found the loophole. Following a corner, Mancini remained at the forefront and was more lively than Moris, who misjudged the trajectory of the center, and opened the scoring (0-1, 62nd). With this goal, the Union took a blow to the head. To start new momentum, Khalaili and Fuseini were replaced by Ait El Hadj and Rodriguez. And if Moris had experienced difficulties in the air sector, Svilar was not left out. On a corner, the ex-Anderlecht player was hampered by a teammate and Mac Allister was able to put his head in an empty goal (1-1, 77th). The Brussels residents put the pressure on, particularly on a counter-attack where Boufal, who got into the game, was unable to finish (85th). Despite one last huge opportunity in stoppage time, the score no longer moved and Mr. Brisard, the French referee for this match, whistled the end of the match.
This draw snatched by the Union ultimately does not help anyone. Even if the Brussels residents scored their second goal in the competition, they still haven’t taken off and remain in the depths of the ranking of this new Europa League format. Pocognoli’s men will now have to focus on the championship with the reception of leader Genk this Sunday.
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