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hard-fought match played on a muddy pitch that was barely playable in parts and began with the tie at 0-0 after the first leg in Brondbyvester two weeks earlier
A goalless draw in the away leg was a decent result but Roma certainly didn't feel comfortable going into the return at the Olimpico – and it showed
The Giallorossi looked tense and were slow out of the blocks
while the visitors had no such hang-ups and nearly scored in the opening minutes
The turning point came 33 minutes into the game
when Ruggiero Rizzitelli sparked the game into life
Brondby keeper Peter Schmeichel could only beat away Sebastiano Nela's fierce drive and Fabrizio Di Mauro was quickest to react
crossing for Rizzitelli to head into the empty net
In the 63rd minute Bryan Jensen sent a cross into the box
Giovanni Cervone came out to claim but Antonio Comi got there first
knocking it past the keeper and towards the goal
Nela made a desperate attempt to clear but could only send it into the net
thus making unwanted appearance on the score sheet
At 1-1 the Danes were going through on away goals until Roma came up with the winner three minutes from time
Stefano Pellegrini lofted the ball into the area
Thomas Berthold got his head on it but the defence cleared; Stefano Desideri collected the ball and hit a low drive which Schmeichel parried; Rizzitelli and Rudi Voeller were both lurking and the German got there first
smashing the ball into the net to send the Olimpico into raptures – one of the loudest roars ever heard at the stadium
The Giallorossi held on to claim a vital 2-1 victory and take their place in the UEFA Cup final
the goalkeeper spent eight seasons at Roma
A goalie blessed with technique and character – he would raise a knee when going for crosses to intimidate opponents – but wasn't always the most consistent of performers
he was a worthy successor to Franco Tancredi
making 246 appearances between 1989 and 1997
Stefano Pellegrini: Same name but a different player to the Stefano Pellegrini
who scored Roma's first-ever goal in the UEFA Cup against Dunav Ruse in 1975
This Pellegrini was a defender who had two older brothers
It was his cross that led to Voeller's winner in the semi-final against Brondby
Sebino Nela: The only player in Roma history to have played in two European finals (in 1984 against Liverpool and in 1991 against Inter)
he was also a member of Nils Liedholm's Scudetto-winning side of 1982-83
powerful defender who started out as a full-back and ended his career as a reliable centre-half
Thomas Berthold: Two seasons at Roma after first playing for Verona in Italy
A versatile player who could operate both in defence and midfield
he won the World Cup with Voeller and Germany in 1990
Aldair Nascimento Santos: One of the greatest defenders of all time
sublime technique and a phenomenal sense of position and anticipation
An all-round top-class centre-back who spent 13 years at Roma
and even a striker at the start of his career
He won the Coppa Italia with Roma in 1991 and played in the UEFA Cup final the same year
as well as the unfortunate Coppa Italia final against Torino in 1993 – the same season he scored a stunning scissor-kick volley against Ancona at the Olimpico
That was one of his five goals in 135 appearances
Roma's No.7 in the early '90s and an idol for many younger fans
He possessed a fearsome long-range shot – too hot for Schmeichel to handle in the build-up to the winning goal against Brondby
A Roman who came through the Giallorossi academy
Fabrizio Di Mauro: A skilful central midfielder who often wore No.8 on his back and white tape around his ankles
It's just a shame he spent a season at Lazio (1993-94)..
Rudi Voeller: The 'Flying German' inherited Roma's No
9 from Roberto Pruzzo and carried the Giallorossi into the UEFA Cup final in 1991 with 10 goals in 12 games
he netted 68 times in 198 total appearances for the club
The Rome-born midfielder took the armband after Agostino Di Bartolomei
Il Principe carried the team on more than one occasion and lifted the Coppa Italia in 1991
He might have done it again in 1993 had he not been denied by the post in the final against Torino (after scoring a hat-trick of penalties)
He was unlucky in the two-legged UEFA Cup final against Inter in 1991 too
His poster was proudly displayed on the wall of many a young Roma fan – including one by the name of Francesco Totti
Ruggiero Rizzitelli: A thoroughbred striker who joined from Cesena and earned national acclaim at Roma
while discovering his love for the Giallorossi colours – he still proudly calls him a Romanista to this day
He was influential in the UEFA Cup semi-final second leg against Brondby
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Manchester United – it is immediately obvious that they are all based in cities
but it is a little surprising just how few non-city based clubs enjoy genuine success
I want to make it absolutely clear that this seven is based solely on the team’s current ability
Here are the 7 best football clubs not based in cities right now:
The fans of Brondby IF celebrating prior to the Danish 3F Superliga match between Silkeborg IF and Brondby IF at JYSK Park on November 04
are based in the Brondby Municipality in the east of Denmark
they are based in the town of Brondbyvester within the Brondby Municipality
Brondbyvester has a population of just 20,000 people
which is fewer than the Brondby Stadion’s capacity
Brondby are the second most successful club in Denmark behind their rivals FC Copenhagen
but they haven’t won a league title since 2005
They did win their seventh Danish Cup in 2018
which was the clubs first silverware of any kind for a decade
Fifteen games into the current 2019-20 Danish Superliga season
Among Brondby’s star men are prolific Polish international Kamil Wilczek and pacy Swedish wide man Simon Hedlund
and the Danish outfit get us started in this seven
obviously not our Danish and Scandinavian ones
FA Cup finalists in 2018-19 but currently propping up the Premier League table
Watford are yet to win in eleven Premier League outings so far this season
having suffered an 8-0 defeat at the hands of Man City in September
and some could make a case for a few of the Championship sides who will feature in the honourable mentions – including the side that tops the Championship at the time of this recording
Watford finished 11th in the Premier League last season
a whopping 16 points clear of the relegation zone
Clearly they’re in real danger this season
but they’re only actually a couple of wins and a draw off Everton
and they have some real talent with the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure
Watford is routinely confused as being in London
when it is in fact a borough and town in Hertfordshire
and the town was the birthplace of actor Matt King
He’s not the most famous person from Watford
but he’s the one I’ve chosen to include here
(L-R) goalkeeper Warner Hahn sc Heerenveen
Given that SC Heerenveen have been in the top flight of Dutch football since 1993 and have formed the platform of many Netherlands greats over the years
those who are not experts in the city-status of settlements within the Netherlands could be forgiven for thinking Heerenveen falls into that category
Heerenveen is a town and municipality in the province of Friesland in the north of the Netherlands
The municipality has a population of just over 50,000
whilst the town proper is home to just under 33,000 people
It may seem surprising that Heerenveen are a club that have played Champions League football
have won the KNVB Cup and have a stadium with a capacity of 27,000
but Heerenveen is a town which prides itself on sporting greatness
Known worldwide for having the fastest lowland speed skating rink on Earth
Heerenveen has given birth to some of the world’s greatest speed skaters
The town also has a hugely successful ice hockey team
Heerenveen’s stadium is named after club legend and Heerenveen-native Abe Lenstra
who scored 523 goals in 500 games for the club and 33 goals from 47 caps for the Netherlands
Lenstra isn’t the only former Heerenveen great though
the club has also provided a platform in the development of the likes of Hakim Ziyech
Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Ruud van Nistelrooy
Heerenveen are seventh in the Eredivisie table at the time of this recording
Renowned for its production of ceramic tiles
80% of all ceramic tiles in Italy are produced in Sassuolo
with the 300 ceramic tile factories located there forming the backbone of the towns economy
the town has produced no fewer than three outstanding racing drivers over the years
Sassuolo is also currently the only non-city to have a team in the top flight of Italian football
and Sassuolo’s rise has largely coincide with their larger neighbours demise
Modena and fellow locals Carpi are currently playing in Serie C
Their rise was largely inspired by the management of Eusebio Di Francesco and the performances of the club’s all time record goal scorer Domenico Berardi
who is still with the club and is still only 25
Sassuolo finished sixth in Serie A in 2015-16
which saw them compete in the Europa League the following season
Third place brings us to the second of three English clubs in this seven
who are based – remarkably – in the town of Burnley in Lancashire
Burnley are historical overachievers within the English game
With a population of just 73,000 and an average attendance in excess of 20,000
Burnley supposedly hold the record for the highest ratio in terms of town population to match attendance in England
Burnley were one of the twelve founding members of the Football League back in 1888
and they have played at Turf Moor since 1883
Burnley have spent more seasons in the top flight than in any other league
which is the same number as Tottenham Hotspur
Burnley finished 7th in the 2017-18 Premier League season
but went out in the play-offs of last seasons Europa League
Burnley continue to be overachievers in 2019
despite having one of the lowest wage budgets in the division
Manchester United’s English midfielder Scott McTominay (R) battles with Bournemouth’s Norwegian striker Joshua King (L) during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth…
The third and final Premier League team in this seven
Bournemouth are even greater overachievers than Burnley right now
in terms of the historical size of the club at least
which is by far the smallest stadium in the Premier League
isn’t actually located in Bournemouth at all
Boscombe is a suburb of Bournemouth and most assuredly is not a city
Bournemouth have not historically been big hitters within English football
Their promotion under Eddie Howe in 2015 was the first time Bournemouth had reached the top flight since being founded in 1899
The town of Bournemouth itself has a population of over 187,000
This figure is sometimes inflated to 465,000 by bringing in a larger catchment area
which would make Bournemouth the largest settlement in England without city-status
and yet they are routinely one of the best teams to watch
Eddie Howe has done a spectacular job not just keeping the Cherries in the Premier League
but looking to push on and always playing with a real style and purpose
and are 7th in the Premier League table at the time of this recording
David Brooks and Callum Wilson at their disposal
I’ll keep it brief with the honourable mentions
but please do let me know if there are any glaring omissions you feel I have made in the comments
Championship table toppers West Brom are the most obvious honourable mentions
Luton and Middlesbrough shouldn’t be entirely overlooked either
Ligue 2 promotion hopefuls Lens and Guingamp came close to featuring
and both would have had even better shouts had they been top flight sides at the time of recording
Mid-table Portuguese side Rio Ave are a top flight side
but they still didn’t quite squeak through
Empoli can consider themselves a tad unfortunate not to feature as well
having only narrowly been relegated from Serie A last season
The UEFA Champions League logo is seen on the arch prior to the UEFA Champions League Group F match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Olympique Lyonnais at Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena on…
Top of the tree as not just the best football team not based in a city
but also the only team in this seven based in a village rather than a town
1899 Hoffenheim are a real footballing anomaly
The village of Hoffenheim has a population of just 3,272
yet Hoffenheim’s stadium has a capacity of 30,150
that Hoffenheim’s Rhein-Neckar Arena is located in a nearby village called Steinsfurt
although Steinsfurt also has a population of around 3,000
with the club having won promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in 2008
recording a record high third placed finish in 2017-18
That saw them achieve Champions League qualification for the second consecutive season
which is a remarkable achievement for a village team
in Germany itself there is a fair bit ire aimed in Hoffenheim’s direction
There was nothing organic about Hoffenheim’s rise from fifth tier amateurs in 1999 to Champions League football in 2017
it came about as a direct consequence of vast sums of money being pumped into the club by local billionaire Dietmar Hopp
certain sections of supporters and the media in Germany haven’t taken too kindly to Hoffenheim’s success
with their lack of traditional fanbase and historic success often pointed out by their rivals
Hoffenheim are currently adjusting to the loss of manager Julian Nagelsmann to fellow bankrolled former minnows RB Leipzig
and they sit 9th in the Bundesliga table at the time of recording
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