Roma v Feyenoord: Europa Conference League final match report

In the sizzling heat of Tirana, Roma would take on Feyenoord in the inaugural Europa Conference League final. 

Going into the match, both sides were on relatively inconsistent form, winning, drawing and losing in each of their last three. 

However, after Roma’s impressive 3-0 win away to Torino and Feyenoord’s disappointing home defeat to FC Twente at the weekend, attention for both clubs was solely on this evening’s match and becoming the winners of the premier edition Europa Conference League. 

For the Italians, Jose Mourinho would make five changes from the victory in Turin with Chris Smalling replacing Marash Kumbulla at the heart of defence, Rick Karsdorp coming in for Leonardo Spinazzola to play against his boyhood club, Bryan Cristante taking Jordan Veretout’s place in the engine room, eventual goal hero Nicolo Zaniolo replacing Eldor Shomurodov and the returning Henrikh Mkhitaryan coming in for Porto loanee Sergio Oliveira. 

The legendary Portuguese manager has taken this competition seriously throughout and a win would see him bring Roma’s first European trophy back to the Stadio Olimpico since 1961, etching his name into the club’s history books in the process.  

In the Feyenoord camp, four alterations were made from Friday night’s loss to FC Twente. Left back Tyrell Malacia replaced Ramon Hendriks, the experienced Gernot Trauner came in for Marcus Pederson, Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson returned to the frontline and there was also a further boost through the return of captain Justin Bijlow in goal. He came in for former Hibernian man and Israeli international Ofir Marciano. Arne Slot was looking for his first ever trophy as a manager and Feyenoord’s first since 2018 in a game which could further establish his name as an up and coming young manager. 

Ultimately though, it was the master of European finals who prevailed. Jose Mourinho’s Roma took the Europa Conference League trophy back to the Italian capital with Nicolo Zaniolo’s first half strike separating the sides. 

It was a relatively even match on the whole with Feyenoord’s missed opportunities coming back to bite them in the end. 

The Match

The game was fairly flat in the early stages with both sides sizing each other up. 

There was a blow for Roma on the 17th minute as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whom Jose Mourinho was highly eager to be available for the match, was forced off through injury. His replacement was an ample one, though - Porto loanee Sergio Oliveira came on and sured up the midfield. 

Feyenoord begun to dominate possession and Roma struggled to impose themselves on the game although the first major opportunity of it came for the Italian side. 

Some nice build up play saw Gianluca Mancini’s lovely diagonal be taken down deftly by Nicolo Zaniolo. After controlling the ball well, the twenty two year old was able to quickly dink it over Justin Bijlow in the Feyenoord goal and put his side in front just after the half hour mark. 

Feyenoord tried to get themselves level prior to the break with Orkun Kokcu stinging the palms of Rui Patricio. The Portuguese was called into action yet again a few minutes later as he imposingly claimed Tyrell Malacia’s cross. 

When half time came, Roma were in front however at the beginning of the second forty five, Feyenoord came flying out the traps. 

A well worked corner saw the ball ricochet off the post. It then fell to Gus Til in the box yet his close range effort was magnificently saved by Patricio. 

Feyenoord didn’t let up with left back Malacia the next to have a go however his powerful, long range shot was denied once more by the tremendous Patricio who beat the ball on to the woodwork and out. 

Moments after they almost got themselves level, the Dutch side’s blushes were spared. Marcos Senesi looked to have impeded Roma striker Tammy Abraham who got on his blindside. Senesi was the last man back and lucky to escape a sending off. 

Going on from this, Roma begun to create some chances. Substitute Jordan Veretout had a driving strike deflected into the arms of Justin Bijlow. The Feyenoord keeper had to be alert ten minutes later as Giallorossi captain Lorenzo Pellegrini was denied the chance to win the game with just under ten to play. 

Going into the closing stages, naturally, Feyenoord would push for a late equaliser. Europa Conference League top scorer Cyriel Dessers flicked on for Bryan Linssen at the back post in stoppage time but the thirty one year old failed to connect with the ball. Had he done so, it would’ve assuredly taken the game to extra time and created jubilant scenes in the Feyenoord end in Tirana and back at De Kuip but it wasn’t to be. 

There was a last throw of the dice as Justin Bijlow was sent forward for a late corner kick but nothing came of it.

Roma ran out eventual 1-0 winners as Jose Mourinho continued his esteemed dynasty as a football manager at the top level and won his side’s first major honour since 2008. 

Man of the Match

It is hard to look past Rui Patricio as the standout performer in this one. The former Wolves and Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper made a plethora of huge saves and commanded his area as you would want your keeper to. It is yet another medal for the thirty four year old who has previously won the Euros with Portugal among several domestic honours in his homeland. 

What they said 

On his team’s success, Roma manager Jose Mourinho was jubilant and ruled out any speculation of a departure from the Italian capital, stating: 

“I’m gonna turn down any proposal. I will stay here at Roma even if there are rumours. We made history today.

“I have no doubts, I will continue as Roma manager”

On the other hand, Arne Slot was rather angered with the exploits of Mourinho’s team, telling Dutch media: 

“You know that you will have a hard time against Italians if you find out early, especially with a Jose Mourinho team. And then you also get so little extra playing time”

What’s next?

For both of these sides, this was the final game of their respective 2021/22 campaigns. 

The season ends on a high for Roma and Jose Mourinho whereas Feyenoord have to spend the summer mulling over what could’ve been in Tirana. 

Nonetheless, the Dutch side will come back stronger in 2022/23, optimistic for their second season under Arne Slot. 

Roma, on the other hand, will be partying for days upon end with Jose Mourinho and match winner Nicolo Zaniolo writing their names in the club’s history books.