The UWCL Unveiling 2023/24: AS Roma and FC Bayern’s draw reveals the path to improvement for both sides – tactical analysis

Roma faced FC Bayern in their respective fifth fixture of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, and the game ended with an entertaining 2-2 draw that does not really serve both teams a lot. At the same time, the draw can be considered a lot more positive for Bayern than Roma since they were losing the game until the final minutes. However, Bayern are more experienced in UWCL and have more valuable players in their team.

It is true that the game took place at Stadio Tre Fontane and not in Germany. Yet, Bayerns performance in this match was not convincing enough as they risked losing the game if not for their excellent abilities in the air in the final minutes. This means that the Munich-based side need to review their performances and aim at improving their defensive and attacking organisation to achieve better results even when playing away games against tough teams.

On the other hand, we can say that the Italian side learned last season’s lessons in the UWCL and used their recent European experience in a positive way since they were able to challenge Bayern until the last minute of the game and were even very close to winning the match. We can also stress the fact that Roma were not poor defensively as they did not concede a lot of dangerous chances from FC Bayern and resisted their powerful attacking players throughout the match.

Both conceded goals, however, could have been avoided, yet what was very impressive from Roma was their ability to threaten Bayern a lot in this match thanks to their crucial passing inside the final third and often accurate finishing. This match represents a further confirmation that Roma are actually becoming more powerful and readier for challenges against some of the top European teams, which means that they are also capable of winning the Serie A title this season as well if they keep up their excellent level of performance.

In this tactical analysis article, we will be focusing on Roma’s attacking performance and how they were able to disturb the Bavarian giants defensive line. In addition, we will be exploring Bayerns attacking performance and tactics and how they exploited Roma’s few defensive errors. But first, the analysis will begin by introducing both team’s formations and line-ups.

Line-ups

Roma started this match using the 4-1-4-1 formation with Camelia Ceasar as a goalkeeper, Elisa Bartoli, Moeka Minami, Elena Linari, and Lucia Di Guglielmo in defence, Saki Kumagai as a defensive midfielder, Laura Feiersinger and Manuela Giugliano as central midfielders, Emilie Haavi and Evelyne Viens as wingers and former Milan’s Valentina Giacinti as the team’s striker.

On the other hand, Bayern played according to the 4-2-3-1 formation with Maria Luisa Grohs as a goalkeeper, Giulia Gwinn, Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir, Tuva Hansen, and Katharina Elisa Naschenweng in defence, Sarah Zadrazil and Georgia Stanway as central midfielder, former Chelsea’s Pernille Harder as an advanced playmaker, Linda Dallmann and Klara Bühl as wingers and Lea Schüller as the team’s striker.

Roma’s convincing attacking performance

This game witnessed one of Roma’s most convincing attacking performances, especially considering they were playing against a very powerful team. The attacking players Haavi, Viens and Giacinti were accurate and dangerous in most of their actions as they shot ten times in this match, with six shots being on target.

They also won 34 out of 70 offensive duels and were always dangerous inside the final third. The Serie A Femminile side were also good enough in counterattacks as they often relied on short, quick passes to reach Giacinti. The latter would also search for passing options whenever she does not find shooting possibilities.

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