AEK Athens v Roma — UEFA Champions League

“Η χρήση που του κάνει μέχρι στιγμής ο Νίκολιτς καταμαρτυρεί εμπιστοσύνη: ο Φινλανδός λειτουργεί ως το πρώτο και πιο αξιόπιστο σκαλοπάτι του build up, ο παίκτης που δίνει στην ομάδα τη δυνατότητα να ανασαίνει στην κατοχή.”

The way Nikolić has used him so far shows trust: the Finn works as the first and most reliable step of the build-up, the player who lets the team breathe in possession. our translation

Read it at Enwsi.gr

“«Παίξαμε καταπληκτικά, ξεκινήσαμε δυναμικά, ήμασταν συνέχεια στην επίθεση, ασκήσαμε μεγάλη πίεση στον αντίπαλο, συνεχές πρέσινγκ, κάναμε πολλές φάσεις, βάλαμε το πρώτο γκολ, το δεύτερο, δεν σταματήσαμε να πιέζουμε και βάλαμε “φωτιά” στην υπέροχη ατμόσφαιρα που είχαν ήδη δημιουργήσει οι καταπληκτικοί φίλαθλοι της ΑΕΚ.”

"We played brilliantly, we started with energy, we were attacking all the time, we put the opponent under great pressure, continuous pressing, we made lots of chances, we scored the first goal, the second, we never stopped pressing and we set fire to the wonderful atmosphere our fantastic fans had already created." our translation

Read it at ΤΑ ΝΕΑ

“Η ΑΕΚ του Νίκολιτς δεν ποντάρει στα 6άρια για τα χαφ, αλλά στα 8άρια, αν όχι στα 8-10άρια. Δηλαδή, σε παίκτες «εγκεφαλικούς», που έχουν καλή τεχνική, τακτική και τοποθετήσεις.”

Nikolic's AEK does not go for holding midfielders but for playmakers. That is, players who think, with good technique, tactical sense and positioning. our translation

Read it at Sportal.gr

“Dall'altro lato, la Roma si conferma una squadra forte e in forma, con dei principi ormai assimilati da tutti i suoi giocatori: il pressing, quando eseguito, è gestito bene; i cambi di marcatura son sempre fatti alla perfezione; inoltre, i movimenti in catena stanno portando tanti frutti in termini di creazione di occasioni.”

On the other side, Roma confirm themselves as a strong side in form, with principles every player has absorbed: the pressing, when they do it, is well managed; the switches of marking are always done perfectly; and the combinations down the flanks are creating plenty of chances. our translation

Read it at Sportellate

“In fase di non possesso, Gasperini non scende a compromessi: la Roma adotta una marcatura a uomo feroce e asfissiante a tutto campo.”

Out of possession, Gasperini makes no compromises: Roma use ferocious, suffocating man-marking all over the pitch. our translation

Read it at Mantra Lab

“Le due punte sui due centrali in fase di possesso prevedono come conseguenza l’innalzamento degli esterni fino ai terzini per uno schieramento immediatamente sbilanciato in avanti che porta come naturale conseguenza, se le marcature ovviamente funzionano, a giocare nella metà campo avversaria, cosa che la Roma ha fatto praticamente per tutta la partita.”

With the two forwards on the two centre-backs during the build-up, the consequence is that the wide players push up onto the full-backs, giving a shape immediately tipped forward, which naturally leads — if the marking is working, of course — to playing in the opponents' half, which is what Roma did for practically the whole match. our translation

Read it at Il Romanista