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Champions League: AS Roma's Di Francesco wants young Nicolo Zaniolo to stay grounded

AS Roma teenager Nicolo Zaniolo has been told to keep his feet on the ground after he became the youngest Italian to score twice in a Champions League match as they beat visiting Porto 2-1 in their last 16, the first leg on Tuesday.

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AS Roma teenager Nicolo Zaniolo has been told to keep his feet on the ground after he became the youngest Italian to score twice in a Champions League match as they beat visiting Porto 2-1 in their last 16, the first leg on Tuesday.

Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco sent out the warning after the 19-year-old scored his brace for the Serie A side in six second-half minutes at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday.

Zaniolo gave Roma a comfortable advantage before Porto substitute Adrian Lopez responded with an away goal.

"It's right for him to be lauded, he has done well," Di Francesco said in a post-match news conference.

"He is on a path of development that is beyond expectations; the matches he doesn't play well in are also a motive for growth.

"I hear people taking credit for Zaniolo, but then it's me who coaches him. Now he needs balance, especially with those who are around him."

Di Francesco was pleased with his side's performance, particularly in the second half, despite them conceding what could be a crucial goal for Porto with 10 minutes left.

"We grew into the game and used the ball better, the central midfielders were better with the quality of their play," he said after Edin Dzeko struck the post in an uneventful first period.

"The two teams were looking at and studying each other. We hit the post in the first half too, it was good. In the second half, we had more determination in the final third.

"It was one of our best performances from the perspective of feeling like a team."

Porto coach Sergio Conceicao believes the tie remains finely poised ahead of the second leg in Portugal on March 6.

"At the start it was balanced, then when we tried to be more incisive we conceded," he said.

"I liked our way of defending and also how Roma played. We have a 50-50 chance, just like before the game."

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