Three football games in four days might sound extreme to some, not least when visiting one of the most historic cities in the world, but when you’ve been consumed by a feverish passion for a team like Roma, it can easily become your reality.
When Roma looked to be on course for Champions League qualification at the back end of last season, I made a vow that if we made it, I ought to attend at least one of the matches. (More accurately, my vow – afraid of jinxing it – was actually that I ought to attend a Europa League game… with a knowing wink). And so, after Roma finished third by the end of last season, the planning began.
But once the calendar was drawn, the schedule opened up a wider scope of opportunity. In fact, Roma have just had three home games in a row, with two in the Champions League bookending one in Serie A. Alas, I couldn’t make it for the first of those, against Real Madrid, but I managed to cram in a four-day trip whereby I could fly out to Rome on the morning of Saturday’s nighttime fixture against Genoa and return home the morning after Tuesday’s clash with Slovan Bratislava. And with Roma Women being at home to AC Milan on the Sunday, that was three-quarters of an itinerary set.
For most visitors, a four-day trip to Rome might include visiting the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican. Mine would instead be built around two visits to the Olimpico and one to Tre Fontane, fitting in anything else in the downtime in between. Been there, done that anyway. That’s true for the Olimpico too, but I’d never seen these specific games before, had I?
Unfortunately, travelling on the day of the game meant a very early alarm – you don’t want to know how early – but by the time you get to the stadium, with the familiar pre-match rituals and songs awaiting, from Campo Testaccio through to Roma Roma, adrenaline always carries you through.
And so, seat taken, the Genoa game got underway.
It took a while for a rotated Roma to get going, with close to half of our strongest possible XI unavailable. That meant no goals right in front of my eyes in the first half – I was sat in the Tribuna Tevere, closer to the Curva Nord where Roma were attacking for the opening 45 minutes than the Curva Sud – but the deadlock would soon be broken.
It was in some style, too, with Santiago Castro swivelling in a crowded box and chipping the ball into the net. For pure ingenuity, it was instantly one of the more eye-catching goals I’ve seen at the stadium.
The second goal also induced big celebrations, this time more for the identity of the scorer than for how he did it. Emanuele Lulli latched onto a loose ball to tap home his first goal for the club, marking a major milestone on his impressive breakthrough journey this season. It was an honour to be part of the first crowd able to shout his name after he scored for Roma’s first team.
Other touching moments from the game included the tributes paid to opponents Daniele De Rossi and Stephan El Shaarawy, coaching and playing for Genoa respectively. Put yourself at Roma’s service like they did and you will be respected after you’ve gone.
Chapter one had been a mammoth day, but it ended in elation. We won 2-0 and the sound of Grazie Roma over the speakers after full time was as rewarding as ever. And this time, I knew I’d be back at the Olimpico within not months or years, but days.
But first, it was over to Tre Fontane for Sunday afternoon’s women’s game.
Sun beating down on the open stands, I reflected on my previous visit to the ground, which had been just after Roma had won the league in 2024. Even as defending champions again now, there’s less certainty about this Roma team, who were unexpectedly thrust into a new era when Luca Rossettini left his role as coach in the summer after just a year. The squad inherited by and rebuilt for Gianpiero Piovani are still finding their identity, so the visit of Milan made for an intriguing fixture.
Within 10 minutes, it was lift off. Giada Pellegrino Cimò, who spent last season on loan at Ternana and was a more surprising inclusion in the starting lineup, scored her first goal for the club. But Milan hit back with a brace by Christy Grimshaw and it was anyone’s guess how the second half would unfold.
Thankfully, Roma took control. Pellegrino Cimò scored again, and then Manuela Giugliano restored our lead with a header. Finally, after hanging onto the lead, Roma made it 4-2 via the tenacious Giada Greggi. Two days down, two wins in the bag.
After the game, I had photos taken with Martina Piemonte, Giugliano, Greggi, Alice Corelli, Valentina Bergamaschi and Rachele Baldi, before heading back into the city centre via the metro (it’s just five stops from Tre Fontane to the Colosseum).
All was going to plan so far, but the big one was still awaiting. The Champions League was the original reason for the whole trip, and thus Tuesday’s battle with Slovan Bratislava was the game I most keenly anticipated. Judging by the noise from the crowd, I wasn’t the only one. The volume in the Olimpico was up a notch compared to against Genoa, especially as everyone belted out the ending of the Champions League anthem after the players emerged.
Thankfully, what followed was the most routine win of the trip. Roma had played out of their skins against Real Madrid before falling apart a week before, but this time, against inferior opposition, they didn’t need to play in top gear to get the job done.
Niccolò Pisilli put in a sumptuous performance in midfield, spraying passes about left, right and centre. He’d misplaced a few against Genoa, but barely gave the ball away this time. From afar, I was so impressed with how he matured last season and he still looks on course for big things.
The back three was watertight, leaving stand-in goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini with little to do but jog to the centre circle when Roma had an attacking set piece.
Goals from Mario Hermoso and Nahuel Molina earned us a 2-0 advantage by half time, before Pisilli – by now donning the captain’s armband for the first time after Lorenzo Pellegrini’s withdrawal – made it three. Finally, Donyell Malen – who I’d missed the chance to see live on Saturday due to his suspension – put the finishing touches on the 4-0 win with a penalty. Daniele Ghilardi scored a belter too, but unluckily saw it struck off by the officials through no fault of his own.
And there we had it. Roma had won a Champions League game again for the first time since 2019. Cue another rendition of Grazie Roma, this time sounding as sweet as it had in a long while. Three out of three wasn’t too bad at all.
The heavens opened at full time, in stark contrast to the weather at Tre Fontane at the weekend, but it didn’t dampen the spirits on the walk back.
I was left to reflect on a trip of firsts. First Roma goals for Castro, Lulli and Molina. A first Roma outing for Primavera captain Alessandro Di Nunzio, a late sub against Genoa. A first goal for Pellegrino Cimò, and then her first brace for good measure. First minutes with the captain’s armband for Pisilli, who scored under the Sud in that timeframe too.
They were all landmark moments, particularly for academy products like Lulli and Pisilli – both of whom got a player of the match accolade for the game they scored in. Being there for an important part of their journeys will be something to keep close to heart in the years to come, especially if they fulfil their potential.
All good things must come to an end and I was back in England the next day. It had been a successful mission, leaving me with that eternal longing to be back for more.
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