Roma See Off Aktobe, Set Up Sparta Praha Showdown in UWCL

AS Roma Women defeated Aktobe 2–0 in the UWCL second qualifying round. They now face Sparta Praha in Saturday’s final, a clash of possession play against experience and resilience.

27 Aug 2025 - 5 min read
Roma See Off Aktobe, Set Up Sparta Praha Showdown in UWCL
Credit: AS Roma

AS Roma Women secured a comfortable 2–0 win over debutants Aktobe in their UWCL second qualifying round semi-final, with goals from Marta Pandini and Giulia Galli. The victory propels them into Saturday’s mini-tournament final against Sparta Praha, where European pedigree and tactical discipline will be put to the test.

Match Recap: Roma vs Aktobe

Roma imposed their authority from the first whistle, dominating territory and ball retention. The breakthrough came just before half-time when Marta Pandini pounced in the 40th minute with a composed finish to open the scoring. Aktobe, making their UWCL debut, struggled to cope with Roma’s pressing and midfield rotations.

Within a minute of the restart, Giulia Galli doubled Roma’s advantage with a sharp strike, effectively ending the contest. From then on, the Giallorosse managed the game with maturity, conserving energy for Saturday’s final while giving little away at the back. The 2–0 win reflected their control and efficiency.

Key Moments Timeline

  • 40′ – Pandini (1–0): Roma finally break Aktobe’s resistance before half-time.
  • 41′ – Galli (2–0): Quick-fire second straight after the restart kills off the tie.

Standout Player: Marta Pandini

Pandini was decisive with her opener, timing her run perfectly to punish Aktobe’s lapse. Her energy in midfield disrupted transitions and gave Roma a platform to dominate. The goal was as much about her composure as her tactical awareness.

Preview: Roma vs Sparta Praha — Saturday’s UWCL Final

Path to the Final

AS Roma Women: Beat Aktobe 2–0 with strikes from Pandini and Galli.
Sparta Praha: Edged Nordsjælland in a high-drama 5–4 penalty shootout after an exhausting semi-final

Historical Context

Roma and Sparta are no strangers — they met in the 2022/23 UWCL qualifiers, where Roma advanced. Sparta, however, are one of Europe’s most seasoned qualifiers, making their 22nd entry into the competition. Their longevity contrasts with Roma’s relatively recent rise but adds intrigue to a tie between tradition and ambition.

Strategic Deep Dive

Roma’s Game Plan

  • Possession control: Roma thrive on dictating tempo with patient build-up, moving the ball wide to stretch back lines. Expect heavy involvement from midfield orchestrators and overlapping full-backs.
  • Early strikes: Both goals against Aktobe came in tight succession, showing their ability to turn dominance into quick punishment once the breakthrough comes.
  • Key weapon: Wide play and midfield rotations will aim to disorganize Sparta’s compact block.

Sparta Praha’s Game Plan

  • Resilience: Having survived Nordsjælland via penalties, Sparta bring battle-hardened grit and are comfortable suffering without the ball.
  • Transitions: Their best chance is in exploiting space behind Roma’s advancing full-backs, using pace and direct passing.
  • Key weapon: Experience. With 20+ seasons in the UWCL, Sparta are unlikely to panic under pressure.

Key Matchup

Roma’s creativity and midfield dominance vs Sparta’s defensive compactness and counter-attacking threat.
If Roma score early, the tie could open up quickly. If Sparta hold firm deep into the game, their psychological edge from penalties and vast experience may weigh heavily.

What’s at Stake

The winner advances to the third qualifying round, the final hurdle before entering the league phase of the newly expanded UWCL. For Roma, progression would reinforce their status as Italy’s standard-bearers. For Sparta, it would mark another chapter in their long European story.