Football Italia

Mats Hummels was hero and villain for Claudio Ranieri’s Roma, giving away an early penalty before snatching the last-gasp equaliser in a thrilling 2-2 draw away to Tottenham.

The Giallorossi made their debut under Ranieri in a 1-0 defeat to Napoli, as he came out of retirement to be their fourth coach of 2024. Paulo Dybala returned after muscular issues, with Mario Hermoso and Eldor Shomurodov injured. Spurs were fresh from a 4-0 victory over Manchester City, but the injury list included Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Richarlison, Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was a nightmare start for Roma and Mats Hummels, getting his Europa League debut for the club, as he brought down Pape Sarr in the box for a penalty awarded via VAR. Son Heung-min converted to give Tottenham the lead.

Son Heung-min opens the scoring early for Tottenham from 12 yards 🔥

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2024

Dybala threatened an equaliser when getting on the end of the Zeki Celik roll across, but Fraser Forster stuck out a leg to parry.

It was a warning, as moments later the Giallorossi were back on level terms with Evan N’Dicka’s looping header on a Dybala free kick bouncing in off the underside of the crossbar.

Evan Ndicka equalises for Roma against Tottenham 🔥

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2024

Stephan El Shaarawy had the ball in the net again on 23 minutes with a sensational right-foot volley from just inside the box on a Dybala dinked pass over the top, but he was marginally offside.

Absolute chaos at the back for Roma 🫣

How did they keep that out 🤯

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2024

It was end-to-end stuff in London, as first Angelino had to perform a goal-line clearance on Brennan Johnson’s strike with Svilar flapping at the Dominic Solanke follow-up, then Foster got down quickly for a fingertip save on the Dybala daisy-cutter.

Instead, Tottenham restored their advantage when Dejan Kulusevski got down the left and pulled back for Johnson to slide in first-time from 12 yards, getting there ahead of Angelino.

Brennan Johnson puts Tottenham back in the lead 🤍

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2024

It was almost 3-1 soon after, as Kulusevski got away from Hummels for an angled drive that bounced off the far post, with Son incredibly ballooning the follow-up over the bar.

Svilar also got down for a great one-handed save on Son from six yards, but Matias Soule came on for Dybala at half-time.

Hummels made up for the earlier error with a decisive sliding tackle on Kulusevski in the penalty area, but Roma were unlucky to be behind when Artem Dovbyk had two goals ruled offside in the space of a few minutes, then Angelino’s deflected volley on a Celik cross thumped the crossbar.

Tottenham also clipped the frame of the goal with a Pedro Porro free kick and Leandro Paredes practically cleared off the line as Dominic Solanke got away from Hummels and crossed for what would’ve been a tap-in.

It was wide open, Manu Kone incredibly drilling wide from the edge of the area after a poor clearance straight to him.

Solanke stung Svilar’s gloves, then hit a header against the crossbar from point-blank range.

Roma kept pushing and after a stunning Forster reaction save to push the Gianluca Mancini volley over the bar, on the resulting corner Alexis Saelemaekers sent Angelino down the left to flash a ball across the face of goal for the Hummels tap-in from point-blank range.

Mats Hummels grabs the equaliser for Roma in injury time 🫣

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2024

Tottenham 2-2 Roma

Son pen 5 (T), N’Dicka 20 (R), Johnson 34 (T), Hummels 91 (R)

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Brennan Johnson has several Italian teammates and proved what he’s learned with his celebration when scoring against Roma.

He found the net to give Spurs a 2-1 half-time lead in this evening’s Europa League match in London, meeting the pull-back from ex-Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevski.

See how it unfolds on the Liveblog.

The player celebrated by sliding towards the corner flag, then holding up one hand in the famous Italian gesture.

Well-known around the world, that move actually means ‘what?’ and he would’ve seen it quite a few times with Italy internationals Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie as teammates.

Johnson shows off Italian celebration in Tottenham-Roma

Brennan Johnson puts Tottenham back in the lead 🤍

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2024

Mats Hummels continued his absolute nightmare start to life at Roma, giving away a penalty within minutes of his Europa League debut against Tottenham.

See how that game unfolds on the Liveblog.

The defender had joined as a free agent in September and was not used by coach Ivan Juric, who insisted it was not a matter of fitness, but a technical decision based on form in training.

When the German veteran was finally given an opportunity, he scored an own goal in the 5-1 defeat to Fiorentina on October 27.

His second appearance for the club was the second 45 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Napoli.

This evening, Hummels made his first start in the Roma jersey and within three minutes had brought down Pape Sarr for a Tottenham penalty in the Europa League.

It was successfully converted by Son Heung-min following a VAR On-Field Review, putting Claudio Ranieri’s Roma at an immediate disadvantage.

Hummels gifts Tottenham opener against Roma

Son Heung-min opens the scoring early for Tottenham from 12 yards 🔥

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/E1yyFc857H

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2024

Claudio Ranieri tries to get Roma back on track in the Europa League with Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Mats Hummels against Tottenham, who are missing Guglielmo Vicario.

It kicks off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Lazio-Ludogorets and Fiorentina-Pafos on the Liveblog.

The Giallorossi have had a disastrous 2024, firing Jose Mourinho, Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric, so Ranieri took over last week and made his debut in a 1-0 defeat to Napoli.

This is his third different stint at the club he has always supported and he came out of retirement to help rescue Roma’s campaign.

Dybala is back in the starting XI after his usual muscular issues, partnering Dovbyk, while Hummels gets his first start in to all intents and purposes a five-man defence.

Alexis Saelemaekers is in the squad for the first time since ankle surgery in September, but Mario Hermoso and Eldor Shomurodov didn’t make the trip.

Tottenham have quite a few problems of their own to deal with, not least the fact Italy international Vicario broke his ankle and will be out for several months, so Fraser Forster is in goal.

Cristian Romero, Richarlison, Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore are also out of action.

Their form has been oddly mixed, losing 3-2 to Galatasaray and 2-1 to Ipswich Town only to then crush Manchester City 4-0 at the Etihad on Saturday in the Premier League.

Ex-Juventus players Rodrigo Bentancur and Radu Dragusin start.

Italian Destiny Udogie is on the bench, but Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-min Son are in the starting XI.

Tottenham vs. Roma line-ups

Tottenham: Forster; Pedro Porro, Dragusin, B Davies, Gray; Bentancur, Sarr; Kulusevski, Johnson, Solanke; Son

Roma: Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, N’Dicka; Celik, Konè, Paredes, Angelino; El Shaarawy, Dybala; Dovbyk

Former Juventus coach Max Allegri will be in the stands for tonight’s Europa League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Roma, as he is already in London studying English, fuelling reports of a Premier League role.

The Tuscan tactician is a free agent after he was fired by Juve in May, just days after winning the Coppa Italia, and terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent over the summer.

He has been repeatedly linked with a new experience in the Premier League, including Everton, Leicester City and Manchester United approaches.

Allegri in London to learn English

According to Sky Sport Italia and the Corriere dello Sport, Allegri will be in the stands at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for this evening’s Europa League game between Spurs and Claudio Ranieri’s Roma.

This is because he has already been in London for several days to take part in an intensive course to improve his English language skills, something he has been working on for some time with limited results.

The fact Allegri is focusing so much on his English will further fuel those reports he is looking to take the next step in his career in the Premier League.

He had also been linked with the vacant job at Roma earlier this month before Ranieri was appointed to replace Ivan Juric, becoming their fourth coach of 2024.

Allegri, aged 57, has won six Serie A titles, five editions of the Coppa Italia and three of the Supercoppa Italiana.

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Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from the Europa League and Conference League, as Lazio host Ludogorets, Claudio Ranieri’s Roma visit Tottenham and Fiorentina face Pafos.

We begin at 17.45 GMT with Lazio trying to maintain their perfect Europa League record as they welcome Bulgarians Ludogorets.

At 20.00 GMT, Ranieri on his second game in charge of Roma is in London against Tottenham Hotspur, while Fiorentina host Cypriots Pafos.

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is recovering from an ankle injury but is also working on his mindset, getting inspiration from legendary Gianluigi Buffon.

Italy international Vicario underwent ankle surgery this week after sustaining an injury in a Premier League fixture against Manchester City.

Picture: Vicario inspired by Buffon as recovery from injury continues

Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou said the ex-Empoli star would remain out of action “for months.”

Vicario has returned to Italy for the first part of his recovery program and shared the cover of Gigi Buffon’s autobiography, recently released in Italy, in one of his latest Instagram stories.

“I don’t think I could ask for a more fitting book,” wrote the Italian keeper.

Vicario and Buffon have crossed paths with Italy’s national team, as the former keeper has been the Azzurri’s Delegation Chief since September 2023.

Buffon, a 2006 Italy World Cup winner, is the player with the most Serie A appearances: 657 with Juventus and Parma.

Paulo Dybala is expected to be included in Roma’s starting XI for the first time under Claudio Ranieri in his side’s visit to Tottenham in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

It kicks off at 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

After switching to a back three in the second half of his side’s match at Napoli last weekend, Sky Sport Italia believes coach Ranieri will confirm such a set-up and add wing-backs Zeki Çelik and Angelino to form a five-man defensive line.

Mats Hummels should be deployed at its centre, flanked by Gianluca Mancini and Evan Ndicka.

Manu Koné, Bryan Cristante and Nicolò Pisilli should all be confirmed in the starting line-up, the former and the latter tasked with providing both defensive coverage and support to the attacking duo, which should see Dybala play alongside Giallorossi top scorer Artem Dovbyk.

Defender Mario Hermoso is still out with an injury, but the return of Alexis Saelemaekers to Roma’s squad after more than two months could provide Ranieri with a valuable alternative.

Tottenham will have to do without goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who sustained an ankle fracture and will be sidelined for months after undergoing surgery.

Tottenham vs Roma – Probable line-ups

Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Gray; Bergvall, Bentancur; Sarr, Johnson, Solanke; Werner.

Roma (5-3-2): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka, Angelino; Konè, Cristante, Pisilli; Dybala, Dovbyk

Where to watch Tottenham vs Roma

Claudio Ranieri’s first European game in charge for Roma will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and online via Discovery+. Supporters in the USA will be able to watch via Paramount+.

Join us on the Football Italia LIVEBLOG for the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post match reactions as they come in.

Italy international Destiny Udogie admits Tottenham have lacked consistency this season, but Spurs ‘will try and build the right momentum’ against Roma tomorrow after a 4-0 win over Manchester City.

Udogie spoke at a press conference on Wednesday, on the eve of a Europa League game against Roma in London.

“We’re working every day. We’re coming from a big win last week and in the game tomorrow we will try and build the right momentum,” said the Italian defender, as quoted by BBC.

Tottenham secured a memorable 4-0 win away at Manchester City over the weekend, but the North Londoners sit 6th in the Premier League table with 19 points in 12 matches. They collected three victories and two defeats in the last five league matches.

Udogie reveals Tottenham’s main issue before meeting Roma

“It’s been difficult because we haven’t really found the right consistency,” admitted Udogie.

However, “this season is the second season together so we understand each other, we know the gaffer better and the staff. This is the big difference. We have more confidence in our ability.”

As reported by Football London, Udogie briefly spoke about his compatriot Vicario as well.

The Italian keeper has undergone ankle surgery and will remain out of action for a few months.

“We’re going to miss him because in the group he’s a great leader. I spoke to him the day after the operation,” concluded Udogie.

The former Udinese left-back has one assist in 16 Tottenham appearances this term.

He made his Azzurri debut in 2023 and has nine appearances with La Nazionale.

Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou says Guglielmo Vicario will remain out of action ‘for months’ after sustaining an ankle injury.

Vicario underwent ankle surgery earlier this week after sustaining a severe injury during an away 4-0 win at Manchester City over the weekend.

The former Empoli and Cagliari keeper played 60 minutes with a broken ankle at the Etihad Stadium, so his injury surprised everyone at Tottenham.

“I guess, a bit of a shock first of all,” Spurs boss Postecoglou said at a press conference on Wednesday (via Football London).

“We saw he picked up an injury during the game. We saw at half-time but there was no doubt about him continuing. You kind of digest that. Post game he was sore but he played 60 minutes with a sore ankle. We will tape it up and go again.

“But, and I guess externally now people realise, it is a testament to him as a person. He is as tough as nails, as tough as they come. The fact he played at that level for 60 minutes with a fractured ankle was quite outstanding.

“When the shock off it wears off, you process he is going to be missing for a while. Knowing him, he will push the limits as to how long that is and you will get daily updates about that through his Instagram.”

Vicario injury: Postecoglou confirms Italy international out ‘for months’

But how long will the Italian keeper remain out of action for?

“It’s not going to be weeks, it’ll be months,” admitted Postecoglou.

“He’s had surgery and there’s certain timelines. Because it is Vic, and I don’t like giving timelines so early in a process like that because it puts undue pressure on the players and some expectations, but once we get past the rehab stage and he’s getting out there we’ll have a clearer idea.

“It’s a big blow, but for him personally I guess because he was having an outstanding season for us and really growing as a leader within the group. But we have dealt with setbacks before and we will deal with this.”

Playing for over an hour with a broken ankle will make him a hero in the fans’ eyes.

“Yeah, I think so,” said the Tottenham coach.

“Externally people probably now realise what we knew about him internally. It is the reason why I made him part of the leadership group this year because you just see the way he goes about his business on a daily basis. He has a really strong mentality. He wants to be better. I give the guys days off, I guarantee he will be in anyway doing something. He is just that kind of person.

“It was an unbelievable performance. Irrespective of the injury it was a really strong performance from him but taking that into context it is certainly one for the record books of this club in terms of outstanding performances.”

Vicario has conceded 15 goals in 15 appearances with Tottenham this season, keeping four clean sheets.

The 28-year-old made his senior Italy debut in March 2024 and has collected four appearances with la Nazionale.

His contract in North London expires in June 2028.