Dutch side, Feyenoord took a step toward the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday after beating Italian side, AS Roma in the first leg of the two teams’ last-eight clash.
Forward Mats Wieffer scored the only goal that gave Eredivisie leaders Feyenoord a slender lead to take to Rome at Rotterdam’s De Kuip stadium.
The 23-year-old’s third goal of the season was just enough for the Dutch outfit to see off Roma in a rematch of last season’s Conference League final which was won by the Italians.
Wieffer was almost the villain of the piece after being penalized for handball and giving Roma a penalty just before the break which Lorenzo Pellegrini smashed off the post.
Jose Mourinho’s side can consider themselves unlucky not to have got something from the game as Roger Ibanez’s header was headed onto the bar in the 63rd minute by Oussama Idrissi, the man who set up Wieffer’s winner.
Roma, who sit third in Serie A, will have the chance to overturn the deficit when the teams meet again in the Italian capital next Thursday.
They might have to be without forwards Tammy Abraham and Paulo Dybala who were both substituted with injuries, a worry also for their fight for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Similarly, In a game that saw Massimiliano Allegri finally send out an attack-minded setup with most of his best attacking players, it was Gatti who proved decisive. He was already a man of the match candidate for his defensive play when he popped up at the right place at the right time to poke home a rebound after a corner kick.
It was his first goal with Juventus and in the top flight, and it provided all the difference in the Old Lady’s 1-0 win over Sporting CP in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal.
