Europa Roma Vs Brighton League: Old Friends Meeting

AS Roma will host Brighton in the first leg of the 2023/2024 Europa League (Instagram/@officialasroma).

JAKARTA - AS Roma host Brighton & Hove Albion in the first leg of the 2023/2024 Europa League last 16 at the Stadio Olimpico, March 7, 2024, early morning WIB.

The two teams have never met before. However, the meeting between Daniele De Rossi and Roberto De Zerbi as tacticians reminded nostalgia when they fought in Seria A as players.

De Zerbi admitted that the meeting with De Rossi would be memorable. However, the Italian coach still targets victory when he visits Rome.

"I have great respect for him. I know he can be a great coach because as a player he shows an extraordinary personality," said De Zerbi.

"He thinks the same as me about football. He is a passionate person and we are friends, but I hope to win," he said.

De Zerbi and De Rossi are indeed managers who are in the spotlight. He was able to bring the team to look impressive.

Brighton, for example, has finally made their first qualifying path to the knockout stages of tournaments in Europe in their history.

In the 2023/2024 Premier League, Brighton is now ninth with a collection of 39 points.

De Zerbi's impressive record with Brighton has made him the target of many clubs who will lose their managers at the end of this season.

Since signing Brighton on September 18, 2022, he has brought the team to 35 wins, 19 draws, and 22 defeats in all competitions.

De Rossi has three years of money. After AS Roma fired Jose Mourinho in January 2024, De Rossi immediately stole the show.

He brought the Roma Wolf only once to defeat nine matches.

The consistency of performing well led Roma to start chasing the Champions League line. Currently, they are in fifth place with 47 points, only four points from Bologna on the fourth stairs.

You could say, the Roma vs Brighton meeting became a dark horse duel in their respective leagues.

Handled by a rising manager, the Roma vs Brighton fight is predicted to be attractive.

De Zerbi and De Rossi will compete tactically, just like when the two dueled in midfield for their respective teams as players in the past.