A costly defeat
In the second matchday of the Champions League group stage last season, Roma took on Bayern Munich at the Stadio Olimpico. They lost 7-1. The result derailed their promising start to the season and cost them a place in the last 16 of the competition.
Roma’s defeat in Belarus could have the same effect. Losing by a one-goal margin away from home in the Champions League does not sound terrible but it is the manner of the defeat that could haunt Roma. Their abject performance in the first half against BATE was on a par with their annihilation at the hands of the German champions.
Not only could the defeat scar the Giallorossi, it has left them needing a minor miracle to get out of the group. Roma sit bottom of Group D, two points behind both BATE and Bayer Leverkusen and three adrift of reigning champions FC Barcelona. With a double-header against the German side and a trip to the Nou Camp in their next three Champions League games, Roma have a mountain to climb.
Garcia’s men will probably need six points out of that trio of fixtures to stand any chance of progression on the final matchday, where they will hope to get revenge against BATE at the Olimpico. That means Roma are going to have to do something they have not done in nearly six years and win away from home in the Champions League.
On the evidence of tonight, it looks very unlikely.
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