Four Things We Learned: Dzeko's expertly-created goal turns the tie

Memorable night at the Olimpico

A hard-fought, tense 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Stadio Olimpico guaranteed Roma’s progress into the coveted Champions League quarter-finals, as they doggedly overturned their 2-1 deficit from the first leg.

In a tense affair, the occasionally-maligned Edin Dzeko emerged as a fitting hero, with his sharp finish proving the difference-maker, in a win that saw Roma return to UCL quarters for the first time in 10 years and for the fourth time in their history.

Anatomy of a winning goal

With the game in the balance, Dzeko's pivotal winning strike was just what the doctor ordered. Upon analysing this goal, there was much to do admired within the mechanics of the move.

To start with, Aleksandar Kolarov's high positioning importantly saw Shakhtar right-back, Bogdan Butko, leave his post to press the Serbian. Perotti's clever movement towards the wing then purposefully draws Shakhtar's right centre back, Ivan Ordets, who has to compensate for Butko pushing up, along with him. Both these movements vitally generate a large gap between the away side’s two central defenders.

Thankfully for the Giallorossi Kevin Strootman and Dzeko were wide awake to this, as Strootman's scintillating through ball completely unlocked the opposition defence to send Dzeko clean through to finish with aplomb.

Strootman smartly monitors Fred

Knowing Shakhtar's gifted midfielder, Fred, would be key if the Miners were to progress, Strootman was duly tasked with keeping a close eye on the Brazilian star. The Dutchman fulfilled the task effectively too, with him making life as difficult as possible for his man to stamp his mark on the contest.

Strootman would press his marker high during build-up, forcing him to receive with his back to goal, so Fred couldn't enjoy the freedom he dearly loves to orchestrate his team's moves.

Interestingly, when in central midfield zones, Strootman would set traps for his adversary by giving him room to be an option. But once Strootman recognised Fred could be in line to receive, he vigorously pressed him to either catch him on the ball or act as a deterrent for the Shakhtar player to find another outlet.

Also notable was Radja Nainggolan's dogged harrying of Shakhtar's tremendously talented passer, Yaroslav Rakitskiy, for this, in combination with Strootman's efforts on Fred, limited the success of the visitors' two main weapons in building out from the back.

Perotti opens lane for Nainggolan

The way Diego Perotti and Nainggolan worked together so cohesively to manufacture vacant space for the Belgian served as another shrewd avenue for Roma to progress. To free up Nainggolan, Perotti would astutely push away from the central space, acting ostensibly as a decoy runner to pin his man, Butko.

Nainggolan would instantly notice this and take full advantage of the newly created space and exploit it accordingly. He was now in a perfect position to inherit possession and surge at the retreating Shakhtar backline, giving him the essential time and space to make his decisions with clarity.