MX23RW : Thursday, November 14 23:01:23| >> :600:97002:97002:
[monks data]
Roma logo
Europa League | Round of 16 | 1st Leg
Mar 7, 2024 at 5.45pm UK
Stadio Olimpico
Brighton logo

Roma
4 - 0
Brighton

Dybala (13'), Lukaku (43'), Mancini (64'), Cristante (68')
Spinazzola (61')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Paul van Hecke (38'), Lamptey (67')

Roberto De Zerbi, Pascal Gross reflect on Brighton's heavy Europa League loss to Roma

De Zerbi, Gross reflect on Brighton's heavy Europa League loss to Roma
© Reuters
Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi and midfielder Pascal Gross reflect on the Seagulls' heavy 4-0 defeat to Roma in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi has praised Roma for "showing their experience" after the Italian outfit condemned the Seagulls to a heavy 4-0 defeat in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday.

It was a night to forget for former Sassuolo boss De Zerbi on his first return back to his native Italy as a manager, as the Seagulls suffered the heaviest defeat by an English club in Europe for five years.

Several defensive errors proved costly for Brighton at the Stadio Olimpico, as goals from Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante have put Roma firmly in the driving seat to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Brighton have now lost three successive matches across all competitions for the first time under De Zerbi, while it is the first time the 44-year-old has been beaten in three straight games as a coach since January 2020 (a run of three with Sassuolo).

Reflecting on the disappointing result, De Zerbi told reporters: "We played our game and we gave our best and maybe now our best at this moment is this performance.

"Roma were much better in terms of showing their experience of playing this type of game and we suffered too much at this level of the competition, which we're not used to.

Roma's Stephan El Shaarawy in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Tariq Lamptey on March 7, 2024© Reuters

"We lost against a stronger team than us. Roma players are used to playing this kind of match. I am Italian. I know these players, they were already good players.

"We created a lot of chances - the same perhaps in numbers - but Roma played with a different speed and habits to win the game. It's the first time Brighton played in the Europa League last 16 - it's a big level for us.

"Today is the day I love my players the most. I know we played 20% less than our potential. It is an important lesson for all the club to learn from this game.

"For the president, because in the future we will be able to improve the team. For myself, because maybe I will better handle the period from January to March, especially in England with such a busy schedule.

"And for the players. Today they walk away with many regrets and, when you have regrets, you know what you can expect and you can improve and you want to do better. We lost deservedly to a better team - better also mentally.

"Now the focus is on Nottingham Forest [on Sunday]. We have to keep going because we want to compete in the Premier League for the rest of the season."

Roma's Paulo Dybala celebrates scoring their first goal on March 7, 2024© Reuters

Playmaker Pascal Gross, who played the full 90 minutes, has acknowledged that Brighton were left to rue the costly defensive mistakes made in the Italian capital, but he remains upbeat ahead of next week's second leg on home soil.

"We felt we prepared like we always do and we felt really positive before the game," said Gross. "I think we conceded a couple of goals which at this level you will get punished for and we didn't score ourselves.

"We lost the ball in bad areas and we lost some duels, which can happen at this level. All you can do is try and get better. In football everything is possible, but we have another 90 minutes on Sunday first."

Brighton will look to avoid a fourth consecutive loss without scoring in all tournaments when they welcome Nottingham Forest to the American Express Stadium for a Premier League clash on Sunday.

ID:538462:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5358:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Roberto De Zerbi

Click here for more stories about Brighton & Hove Albion

Game History

How you voted: Roma vs Brighton

Roma
77.9%
Draw
12.5%
Brighton & Hove Albion
9.6%
353
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Rome's Stadio Olimpico pictured February 2021
Read Next:
Two Brighton fans stabbed in Italy ahead of Roma Europa League tie
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio440012
2Ajax431010
3Anderlecht431010
4Frankfurt431010
5Galatasaray431010
6Spurs43019
7FCSB43019
8Lyon42117
9Rangers42117
10Olympiacos42117
11Bodo/Glimt42117
12Midtjylland42117
13Ferencvaros42026
14Man Utd41306
15Plzen41306
16AZ42026
17Besiktas42026
18Hoffenheim41215
19Roma41215
20Fenerbahce41215
21Elfsborg41124
22Braga41124
23Porto41124
24Slavia Prague41124
25Real Sociedad41124
26Malmo41033
27FC Twente40313
28Qarabag41033
29Union SG40222
30Nice40222
31RFS40222
32Ludogorets40131
33PAOK40131
34Athletic Club00000
35M. Tel Aviv40040
36Dynamo Kiev40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!