Old Trafford will not bring Roma many happy memories when they return for their Europa League semi-final first leg against Manchester United on Thursday.
The Giallorossi first made the trip to Manchester in April 2007, having won the home leg of their Champions League last-eight tie.
That had been the sides first ever meeting and it remains Roma s sole win in six attempts. Three times they have lost at United and the pick of those matches, in 2006-07, saw a remarkable 7-1 humbling.
With the use of Opta data, we look back on that evening and what it meant for those involved.
Roma s ruins
This was a major European quarter-final and Roma were set to be far from straightforward opposition for United.
The 2-1 win for the hosts at the Stadio…
Giuseppe Marotta missed out on signing Erling Haaland when the superstar striker was valued at a snip of his current value, while the Inter chief cannot see Paul Pogba ever returning to Serie A.
Now at Borussia Dortmund, Norway international Haaland is rated in the top bracket of the world s most lethal finishers, and he has been linked with the biggest clubs in Europe.
Marotta, Inter s chief executive for sport, has disclosed that during his time in a similar role at Juventus, there was an opportunity to snap up Haaland for what now would look like a bargain fee.
Speaking at the Festival dello Sport, Marotta said: A big miss in my career? I say Haaland. When I was at Juve, I could get him for about €2-2.5million.
But at the time we didn t have t…
Everton will be without star playmaker James Rodriguez as Carlo Ancelotti takes on his former club Chelsea on Saturday.
James, 29, sustained a minor calf problem in last week s 1-1 Premier League draw at Burnley and has not trained this week.
Everton have lost their last two home games against Leeds United and Manchester United, dropping to ninth in the table after topping the standings in the early stages of 2020-21.
Ancelotti has not lost three straight home league games as a manager since 2006 with Milan, while March 2016 was the last time it happened for Everton.
They will now bid to avoid that fate at Goodison Park against an in-form Chelsea side who sit third in the table.
We have James out – he had a little problem in the game against B…
Argentina are determined to avoid allowing Ecuador any sweet 16 celebrations after Saturday s quarter-final, having never lost in 15 previous Copa America clashes with La Tri.
Experienced defender Nicolas Otamendi said Argentina would look to provide a platform for their attacking stars, who include the likes of Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez, by keeping it tight at the back against the Ecuadorians.
While Argentina topped their group, achieving three wins and a draw from four games, Ecuador scraped through with three draws and a defeat from the pool containing Brazil.
It was a 1-1 draw with an under-strength Brazil in Goiania on Sunday that carried Ecuador into the knockout rounds, and it would be a monumental shock if they beat Argentina.
However, th…
By Sunday evening in Cameroon, the first two quarter-finalists at the Africa Cup of Nations will be known.
Burkina Faso should start as slight favourites against Gabon, chiefly due to their win when the teams met ahead of the tournament.
Nigeria will then be expected to overcome a Tunisia side who qualified for the last-16 stage via the back door.
Burkina Faso v Gabon (16:00 GMT)
Burkina Faso rather scrambled through the group stage, losing their opener to the hosts before winning 1-0 against Cape Verde and drawing 1-1 with Ethiopia.
They were runners-up in 2013 and finished third in 2017, so this is far from uncharted territory and a 3-0 win over Gabon in a warm-up game for this tournament at the start of January may be a guide of what to expect…
Erling Haaland will not play for Borussia Dortmund against Rangers at Ibrox, but the visitors still believe they can turn their Europa League tie around – and with good reason.
Superstar striker Haaland has been out with a muscle injury for the past month, having scored four goals in four games in all competitions to start 2022.
But Dortmund have continued in that vein without their talisman, netting 25 times in eight matches this calendar year – trailing only Real Betis (29) across Europe s top five leagues heading into the midweek matches.
That rate of 3.2 goals scored per game is also bettered by just one team, meanwhile, in Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen (3.3).
Keeping opponents out at the other end has been the issue for Dortmund, with five o…
Celtic are interested in signing Ugurcan Cakir from Trabzonspor in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Celtic, who won the Scottish Premiership title last season, are looking for a new goalkeeper and have identified Cakir as a potential target.
Joe Hart is the number one goalkeeper for Celtic at the moment, but the former Manchester City star has announced that he will retire at the end of the season. So, the Hoops are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper and have shown an interest in Cakir.
Cakir has been on the books of Trabzonspor since 2012 and has come through the Turkish club’s youth system and is now one of the best goalkeepers in the Turkish Super Lig. He has made 26 appearances in the Turkish Super Lig so far this season. Trabzo…
“Starting this year with my fiancé. Mr Mr Coming soon,” Cavallo wrote in a post on Instagram.
“Thank you Adelaide United for helping set up this surprise.
“You’re (sic) endless support has meant so much to me. You have provided a safe space in football, one that I never in my dreams thought could ever be possible, and encouraged me to live everyday of my life authentically.
“It felt right to share this special moment on the pitch, where it all started.”
In February 2023, Czech Republic international Jakub Jankto – who now plays for Serie A side Cagliari – became the highest profile current male footballer to announce he is gay.
Blackpool striker Jake Daniels is the only current British male player to come out as gay.
…
Introducing an independent regular will serve up some easy wins as well as settling the ongoing financial disputes between the Premier League and lower tiers of the English footballing pyramid.
That was the message from football financial expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke to Stats Perform as charges continue to be pressed against the likes of Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City.
Everton had an initial 10-point deduction reduced down to six for a breach of the Premier League s Profit and Sustainability Rules in the 2021-22 reporting period, though the Toffees are this week arguing a second case, which refers to the 2022-23 reporting period.
Forest saw four points taken away for their own misdemeanours under the same ruling, while Championship title conten…
Man City chasing Musiala
Although Manchester City might remain heavily linked with a move for West Ham and Brazilian ace this summer, it appears that the Premier League giants have their sights set on another playmaker.
In what would certainly be seen as a major coup for Pep Guardiola’s side, it has been suggested that the Sky Blues are leading the chase for Bayer Munich sensation .
Since leaving Chelsea for the German giants back in 2021, Musiala has quickly blossomed into one of European football’s hottest prospects and is potentially seen as a future Ballon d’Or contender.
Set to play a leading role for Germany as the Nationalelf host this summer’s European Championships, the 21-year-old has registered 19 goal contributions across all competitions s…