One thing’s for sure, there are going to be several thousand thick heads in the Italian capital city this morning following Roma’s truly formidable fightback against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
The Giallorossi were faced with a 4-1 first-leg deficit to overcome at the Stadio Olimpico and, thanks to goals from Edin Dzeko, Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas, that’s exactly what they did – eventually sending Barca packing on away goals.
The emotional deluge began in the 82nd minute, when Manolas headed home Roma’s decisive winning goal, only to give the club’s veteran in-house commentator, Carlos Zampa, a nervous breakdown live on air…
Roma commentator Carlo Zampa’s call for Kostas Manolas’ winning goal: 👌🏻#UCL #ASRoma pic.twitter.com/aGrHWJApPG
— Peter Galindo (@GalindoPW) April 10, 2018
Over on BT Sport 3, eternal gas bag Peter Drury did his best to match Zampa’s hysteria with a carefully rehearsed mythological soliloquy…
“The unthinkable unfolds before our eyes!” 😳
Commentary that will make your hairs stand on end, on a night when more Roman history was made 🇮🇹
Only sport can make you feel like this… pic.twitter.com/UG0KV2CIdA
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 11, 2018
The club’s official Twitter account summed up the action as best they could…
DAJEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeifefefbejfwjofnwjfnwjfbrufbwfubweufbewfuewbewbfwejfwjlfjfwfjlwfjbfjwfbwjfbwjofwjfnewjofnewjofnwjfnweAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! #RomaBarca 3⃣-0⃣#ASRoma #UCL
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) April 10, 2018
Back in the real world, there were brilliant scenes up in the press box as the local hacks were overcome with exhilaration…
The scenes in Roma’s press box last night were just incredible.
(via @PaulRogers73) pic.twitter.com/LTI5tLeYnr
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) April 11, 2018
As you might expect, down in the dressing room, the Roma players erupted in a similar joyous frenzy as champagne bottled water was sent flying all over the shop…
SCENES inside the Roma dressing room 🎉🎉🎉@ASRomaEN #UCL pic.twitter.com/Fwwvi97swD
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 10, 2018
The most rapturous celebration of the night, however, belonged to Roma president James Pallotta, who mucked in with the fans out on the city streets and even took an impromptu dip in the fountain on the Piazza del Popolo.
#Roma president, James Pallotta, throwing himself in the fountain of Piazza del Popolo with fans going crazy 😂 pic.twitter.com/ErY9rzZuJJ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 10, 2018
What a night.
The Champions League has its flaws and foibles, certainly – but when it’s good, by gum, it’s bloody cracking!