Jose Mourinho was able to take some revenge on his former club as Roma ground out a 1-0 pre-season win over Tottenham in the I-Tech Cup in Israel on Saturday night.
Mourinho was sacked by Spurs in 2021 and soon went on to take over at Roma, for whom he won the inaugural Europa Conference League last season, also the club’s first European trophy.
It was two strong lineups named, with Antonio Conte picking a team that included Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Hugo Lloris and new signings Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic from the start.
Ex-Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham and former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling started for the Giallorossi, who also began with marquee summer arrival Paulo Dybala.
Spurs dominated the ball and had more attempts at goal during the 90 minutes. But they failed to muster a single one on target to test Rui Patricio between the Roma posts.
The only goal of the game was scored by Roma’s Roger Ibanez in the first half. The Brazilian defender rose highest to meet Dybala’s in-swinging corner from the left. Antonio Conte probably won’t be happy with the time and space that Ibanez had to run, jump and connect with the ball unchallenged.
The game was the final pre-season outing for both teams ahead of the start of the 2022/23 campaign for real. Spurs will kick off in the Premier League at home against Southampton on 6 August, while Roma’s Serie A season commences on 14 August on the road at Salernitana.
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