Opinion: Roma must face Porto challenge without fear

One simply cannot underestimate a Champions’ League play-off, no matter how lopsided the draw may seem.

And though a two-legged tie may help to eliminate some of the random variation in results that can happen in a one-off game, too often in recent calcio history it’s been the Italian side that has struggled to make it through – just look at Udinese (in both 2012 and 2013), or Lazio last season.

That being said, Roma have no reason to fear Porto.

Respect the Portuguese? Absolutely. Porto may have finished 15 points behind Benfica in the league last year, but they scored 67 goals and only conceded 30 in 34 games. That’s the same position Roma finished in Serie A, with 11 fewer goals conceded and 16 fewer goals scored in four fewer matches.

In their respective domestic leagues, then, the Portuguese side were more resolute in defence - but Roma were considerably more prolific at the other end.

Porto have had a rather quiet summer thus far, perhaps waiting to see whether they will have the influx of money that comes with the Champions’ League group stage to better augment their side. Notable acquisitions have been perhaps the opposite of what was expected, as this steely defensive side have spent the biggest sums on defenders – three of them.

From Roma’s point of view, however, Porto’s frugal summer spending spree should not matter much, as the side was already brimming with quality and experience.

Take Iker Casillas, for example, one of the most storied goalkeepers currently playing the game. Maxi Pereira, the full-back, offers a wealth of experience at domestic and international level. Calcio fans might remember Juan Quintero’s impressive spell at Pescara a few years back, while Yacine Brahimi is a name that is becoming more and more prevalent in modern football.

Respect where it is due, then, to a side that won at least 10 games at home and away in the league last term, and to a team that has twice made it to the knockout rounds of the Champions League in the previous four seasons.

That doesn’t mean that Roma should fear Porto, however: pound for pound, player for player, position by position, the Italian side have threats of their own to stand up against the Portuguese opposition.

In the goalkeeping department: Alisson may still be up and coming, but Brazil’s No. 1 has been fantastic in pre-season and will only push the returning Wojciech Szczesny as they battle for the starting spot. Juan Jesus and Kostas Manolas are an experienced centre-back pairing that have worked around the likes of Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Mauro Icardi, and Lionel Messi in recent seasons, and so should be up to stifling a Porto attack that only had one striker reach double digits in the league last season.

Roma’s midfield and attack, meanwhile, is a revolving door of speed, guile, fitness, and goals. Best of luck to the defence that has to keep track of Stefan El Shaarawy and Mohamed Salah trying to steal in behind, especially while Diego Perotti is picking the passes and Radja Nainggolan is making his own unpredictable runs in the box.

In less than two weeks, the sides will face off in the first leg in Porto. At that time, Luciano Spalletti should have Roma well prepared to face a team that is full of European experience and talented players.

But fear? That should be far from the equation.