GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma Women will look to catch up with their Serie A rivals when they take on AGSM Verona on Sunday afternoon.
Roma's debut season began with a loss against Sassuolo, and following the postponement of the game against Tavagnacco, Betty Bavagnoli's side haven't had the chance to get their first points on the board. Now, nearly a month on from that opening day defeat, they have a chance to rectify the situation. Verona lie 6th in the table, having drawn their only game of the season, versus Florentia. That means they are two places above Roma, and Elisa Bartoli and co. could leapfrog them with a victory. The game will be an emotional one for Roma's defensive linchpin Emma Lipman, who spent last season with Verona. It was the English centre-back's first experience of playing football abroad, which gave her the opportunity to make the switch to Roma in the summer. Her knowledge of the opposition could be a crucial factor in Roma's preparation for the game and execution of the gameplan. With the men's game currently on its international break, this matchup gives Roma fans the chance to still support their team while the likes of Edin Dzeko and Alessandro Florenzi are away representing their countries. Some of the women's team have also played internationally in the past week, with Bartoli completing 90 minutes for Italy against Sweden on Tuesday, and Trudi Sudan Carter playing all of Jamaica's 1-0 win over Costa Rica on Monday. This game presents Roma with an opportunity to climb the formative Serie A table, against a team who finished mid-table last year. Can they record a historic first ever competitive win?
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Four wins out of four. Three clean sheets in that time. You'd think that now would be a bad time to break up that momentum. However, there's nothing Roma can do as 12 of their players jet off for the international break.
Key first team players such as Edin Dzeko, Steven Nzonzi and Alessandro Florenzi will all be featuring for their countries over the next week, with Roma's upwards momentum set to be disrupted. Aleksandar Kolarov is another player who clearly needs rest, but will be turning out for his nation. After finally finding their rhythm this season, Roma are set to come off the boil and will have to start all over again when their international players return. Of course, there's nothing that can be done about this. The international break is a fixed part of the football calendar, and the fact that so many of the squad have been called up to represent their countries reflects well on Roma's current form. Yes, it's not ideal that Roma's momentum is being disrupted by this break, but all good teams are adaptable, and the Giallorossi will have to show that they can adapt to these circumstances, so they can resume the league season in the most positive manner. Some factors will play into Roma's hands here. While many complain about the lack of rest players get due to their international commitments, Roma have several first team players who have not been called up. Davide Santon, Stephan El Shaarawy and Federico Fazio have all played key roles at club level recently, but all will be staying in Rome over the next week after not getting the nod for their countries. This gives them ample time to rest, plus they will have more time with Eusebio Di Francesco, learning more about the way the coach wants them to play. Another player who will benefit from this break is Javier Pastore, who missed the last couple of games with injury. This small break in the action gives him more time to recover in a less pressurised environment. His return to fitness is less time critical now, and if he recovers by the end of next week, it'll mean he'll have missed less games than he would have done had the international break not come around now. Roma found a positive rhythm using a new 4-2-3-1 system before the break, and this small window of opportunity will give Di Francesco a chance to reflect and refine it. In the same way that the emergency training camp that took place after the loss to Bologna had a positive impact on the team, these few days can give the team further time to learn about Di Francesco's change in methods, ensuring they become a fully functioning machine when domestic action resumes. It's now time for the squad to regroup. They've done well over the last couple of weeks, and now some of them get the chance to rest and reflect, helping them to improve even further. It's almost like a boxer who is close to knocking their opponent out, but then the bell for the end of the round sounds. It's frustrating, but the momentum will still be with them when the next round begins. They'll get another chance soon enough. Roma's fixtures immediately after the break should test the quality and depth of the squad. After the matchup with SPAL that sees club action resume, Roma face CSKA Moscow twice, as well as Napoli, Fiorentina and Sampdoria within the next month. These are all potentially challenging games, and it's important for the squad to recuperate now, so they can prepare in the most effective way. You wouldn't start climbing a mountain if you were out of breath. This is the right time for Roma to re-focus themselves and make sure they are energised before the challenges ahead. Of course it would have been nice for club football to have continued for another week or so, for Roma to have made it five wins in a row before the momentum was halted. But with the right balance in training sessions, the side can easily pick up where they left off when they face SPAL in 10 days' time. This is the perfect opportunity to plan for the upcoming battles, to make sure Roma finish October as strongly as they started it. Roma showed character and resilience on Saturday night as they beat Empoli 2-0, making it four wins from four in all competitions. The Giallorossi weren't at their best throughout the whole game, but with some individuals stepping up to the plate and putting in big performances, it was enough for Eusebio Di Francesco's side to get the better of the Serie A newcomers. A goal in either half helped secure another positive result. Goal one: Steven Nzonzi (1-0) In midweek, Justin Kluivert scored his first goal for the club, and on Saturday it was the turn of Nzonzi to break his Roma duck. The defensive midfielder is coming into his own at his new club, and got a well-deserved goal from a set piece routine in the first half. Lorenzo Pellegrini played in a cross from the right hand side, which peaked just above Nzonzi's head. The number 42 got his feet off the ground, using his significant aerial advantage to beat the defenders. He flicked the ball goalwards with the back of his head, and it was a precise effort, settling in the bottom corner of the goal. Nzonzi did very well in the way he dealt with the delivery, as it didn't have much whip on it. The way he guided the ball into the net shows his height is not just a coincidence, but something that can be a very dangerous weapon for Roma. Goal two: Edin Dzeko (2-0) Coming off the back of a Champions League hat trick, Edin Dzeko carried his impressive continental form across with an exemplary performance. He got the goal he deserved - his fifth of the season - late in the game, easing the pressure that Empoli had been putting on in the second half. Dzeko played a key role in the build up of the goal, flicking on Robin Olsen's goal kick. Stephan El Shaarawy picked up the ball, and as Dzeko continued his run, the winger fed the ball back to his teammate. The pass was so well-placed, that Dzeko only needed one touch to beat the defender, leaving him one-on-one with the goalkeeper. These are the kind of situations that Dzeko thrives on, and after taking the ball clearly into his path with a touch onto his stronger right-hand side, he lifted it over the keeper for his fourth goal in the space of five days. He showed his patience and intelligence by waiting for the keeper to commit to the ground, which left him with a routine finish to put the game to bed. Composure personified. Highlights from Serie A YouTube
Roma resisted some second half pressure from Empoli to secure another win and clean sheet on Saturday night, wrapping up a 2-0 victory.
It takes Roma into the international break having secured four wins from their last four games, form which has propelled them into the top three of Serie A. The side seem to have rediscovered their mojo after an indifferent start to the campaign, although some alarm bells still rang in this game, as Empoli gave it a good go. However, there were still some great individual performances across the park. Here's how each player performed. Robin Olsen - 7.5 It was a fairly comfortable evening for Olsen in the Roma goal. Even though Empoli managed more shots than Roma, only four of them went on target. However, Olsen was always alert and decisive, spotting the danger and protecting his goal well. Davide Santon - 7 Restored to the starting lineup after sitting out the Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen, Santon did well throughout the game. He showed strength and positional awareness, and his versatility came in useful when he shifted over to left-back upon Luca Pellegrini’s exit from the field of play. Kostas Manolas - 6.5 Empoli did manage to break in behind sometimes, but they were often caught offside, testament to the defensive line that Manolas had organised. With most of the action coming towards Roma’s left, he wasn’t always at the heart of the defensive action, but he was a binding force for the backline as a whole. Federico Fazio - 6 It was a decent performance from Fazio, although he sometimes struggled to keep up with runners in behind. Occasionally he lost the ball too easily, but most of the time he did well enough in and out of possession. Luca Pellegrini - 6 It was a mixed full debut for Luca Pellegrini, who looked good on the ball going forward. However, he was sometimes caught out defensively, leading to a careless booking after getting caught wrong side of his marker. Nonetheless, it was a good outing for the 19-year-old, and definitely gives the side something to build on. Steven Nzonzi - 7.5 After getting back up to pace in terms of match fitness, Nzonzi has found his rhythm and sharpness, and it came to the fore as he capped off a great performance with his first goal for the club. He helped control the flow of the game in midfield, particularly in the first half, and is showing why Monchi wanted to bring him to the club so eagerly. Daniele De Rossi - 8 Even at the age of 35, De Rossi dictated the midfield battle. He played like a man much younger than himself, playing good passes, recovering ground well when losing possession and making key challenges. He was the glue that bound the team together. Cengiz Under - 7 A bright spark going forward, Under showed his willingness to be positive as he looked to be an effective attacking outlet. He took on some quick shots and also was involved in some good passages of play. It was a hard-working performance, even if he could be capable of more. Lorenzo Pellegrini - 6 Pellegrini is continuing to look more comfortable in a more advanced role, but just lacked a little something on the night. He showed he has pace and energy when given the freedom to roam forward, and he can be clinical with his decision-making, but he didn’t always show it during this game. Stephan El Shaarawy - 6 El Shaarawy seemed to struggle to grow into the rhythm of the game. It wasn’t a poor performance but it certainly wasn’t his best, characteristic of the inconsistency which has plagued him in the last couple of seasons. He was good when dribbling, but needs to be more incisive in the final third on a regular basis. Edin Dzeko - 8 Calm and composed, Dzeko led from the front. He showed his experience and leadership in the second half when Empoli were growing into the game, helping to take the sting out of the game with his clever rotation of possession. He got the goal his performance deserved, showing his typical confidence in front of goal no matter how many players were marking him. Subs: Alessandro Florenzi - 6.5 Replacing Luca Pellegrini, Florenzi added solidity at right-back and put in a couple of inviting crosses, although the attackers didn’t always meet them. Bryan Cristante - 5 He didn’t get long to grow into the game, but Cristante struggled to impose himself on it properly. Juan Jesus - 5 Brought on so that Eusebio Di Francesco could change the system, Jesus added cover on the left side of defence, which is where Empoli were getting their joy. After he came on, that seemed to stop, although that wasn't necessarily all down to Jesus. Coach: Eusebio Di Francesco - 7 In terms of team selection, he got the balance right, including the decisions to bring Santon and De Rossi back in. He recognised the right time to bring Luca Pellegrini off, and also noticed the danger Empoli were posing, when he adapted to a back three. All in all, his decisions were shrewd and helped Roma to the win. Luca Pellegrini will make his first start in a Roma shirt when the Giallorossi take on Empoli on Saturday evening.
The young left-back, a product of the club’s academy, has impressed in recent substitute appearances, and Eusebio Di Francesco has confirmed the Italian will be rewarded for his efforts with his full club debut. Roma are looking for a fourth straight win after finding their form recently, with important wins over Frosinone, Lazio and Viktoria Plzen. In fact, Roma could break into the top four for the first time this season with a win. Only Aleksandar Kolarov and Javier Pastore are absent from the squad; the former with fatigue and the latter through injury. Diego Perotti has overcome his recent struggles with injury though, and finds his place in the 23-man list. Eusebio Di Francesco was rather open about team selection in his press conference, confirming starts for four players. Along with Pellegrini, Kostas Manolas and Edin Dzeko will definitely start, while Luca’s namesake Lorenzo Pellegrini is also set to feature from minute one. The game pits Di Francesco against a Roma stalwart in Aurelio Andreazzoli. The Empoli head coach spent ten years with Roma across two spells as an assistant manager, also filling in as caretaker boss in 2013. Having guided Empoli to promotion from Serie B, he is now tasked with keeping them up. So far, they have managed one win, two draws and four losses from seven games. Among Empoli’s playing ranks are Matteo Brighi, the midfielder who made over 100 appearances for Roma in a nine-year spell, and Salih Ucan, who spent a two-year loan with Roma during the Rudi Garcia era. Roma fans never got to see the best of Ucan, who was limited to just 10 appearances for the club, so they will be hoping he doesn’t come back to haunt them on Saturday night. The game kicks off at 7:30pm UK time. Expected Roma lineup: Olsen, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Luca Pellegrini, Cristante, Nzonzi, Under, Lorenzo Pellegrini, El Shaarawy, Dzeko It was a record-breaking night on Tuesday as Roma recorded their biggest ever win in the Champions League.
Eusebio Di Francesco's side made it three wins out of three with a 5-0 hammering of Czech champions Viktoria Plzen, with Edin Dzeko becoming the first ever Roma player to score a Champions League hat trick. Cengiz Under and Justin Kluivert also got in on the act with goals, the latter with his first for the club. Goal one: Edin Dzeko (1-0) The match began in an ideal fashion as Dzeko fired Roma into a quick lead. Just three minutes into the game, the striker put the Giallorossi ahead with a left-footed strike across the keeper. Steven Nzonzi gave Roma their attacking intent with a pass out wide to Aleksandar Kolarov, who then played Dzeko in down the left channel. The Bosnian was able to exploit that space thanks to the movement of left winger Kluivert. The Dutch attacker went deep to play a one-two with Nzonzi before the defensive midfielder moved the ball to Kolarov. As soon as Dzeko acknowledged the space, he moved into it, beating the offside trap and then charging in at goal. He placed the ball across goal with the inside of his foot, an exemplary calm finish. Goal two: Edin Dzeko (2-0) Dzeko's opener saw him draw level with Giuseppe Giannini in 10th place on the club's all-time goalscoring chart, and this goal meant he earned that position outright. After an attack had broken down, Nzonzi used strength and aerial prowess to win the ball back, with Alessandro Florenzi taking the ball and playing it immediately to Cengiz Under. The Turkish attacker got the ball out of his feet and then cut inside. With little pressure on the ball, he was able to float in a cross, picking out Dzeko at the back post. As a Plzen defender misjudged the flight of the ball, Dzeko was able to bring it down easily with his chest, then he half-volleyed the ball into the back of the net from close range, powering the ball home with his laces. Goal three: Cengiz Under (3-0) In a fluid second half move from Roma, Under made it 3-0 with a composed finish. Bryan Cristante received the ball deep and turned into a space, spreading the play to Kolarov. The left-back needed no invitation to carry it down the line, before he played it inside to Dzeko. The number nine played a one-touch pass round the corner for Lorenzo Pellegrini, who demonstrated his newfound effectiveness as a trequartista by controlling the ball and playing it into Cengiz's path. Under's movement inside meant he was unoccupied and had found a space to drive into. When he saw Pellegrini was about to play him in, he raced forward with a burst of pace to meet the ball. As the keeper rushed out, Cengiz placed the ball across his body, extending the advantage with his second goal of the season. Goal four: Justin Kluivert (4-0) There was a first goal in Roma colours for summer signing Kluivert on his Champions League debut for the club. After being left out of the matchday squad for the Real Madrid game, it will have been a massive confidence boost for him to score. This move highlighted his hunger and desire to get forward, making himself available in forward positions. Once again, Nzonzi proved himself to be an effective midfield pivot, dictating the direction of the play. The Frenchman received the ball in his own half with his back to goal, but quickly changed the momentum by turning and picking out Pellegrini. The Italian played an excellent and intelligent long ball over the top, having spotted Cengiz's forward motion. The ball landed in Under's path, and while the attacker was shooting across goal, his opposite winger in Kluivert was bursting into the box. The keeper could only palm Under's effort away, meaning Kluivert was there for the follow up, smashing the ball into the back of the net to become Roma's youngest ever Champions League goalscorer at the age of 19. Goal five: Edin Dzeko (5-0) Dzeko rounded off a special night for himself and the team by completing his hat trick in the dying minutes of the game. From a corner on the right, Florenzi whipped in an outswinger. He struck the ball in a way that made it rise higher than a usual corner, meaning it went deep in the box. Dzeko sidestepped to follow the motion of the ball, getting into a position where he barely needed to jump to meet it. He connected cleanly thanks to his positioning and the speed of the ball, guiding it into the bottom corner. In the process, he completed the perfect hat trick: a goal with his left foot, one with his right foot, and one with his head. An opportunity for Roma to get off the mark in the Champions League awaits, as Viktoria Plzen visit on Tuesday night.
Roma's European campaign didn't get off to the ideal start with a 3-0 loss at Real Madrid a fortnight ago. However, tonight's clash with the Czech champions offers Eusebio Di Francesco's side the chance to get a foothold in the group stages, as the Giallorossi look to continue the upwards momentum. After a slow start to the season, Roma have now won two games on the bounce, including a 3-1 win over Lazio on Saturday, a result that Di Francesco claimed felt like two wins in itself in a press conference. Buoyant from overcoming their rivals, Roma will be hoping they can use the rediscovered positivity to defeat their opponents tonight. Roma are without Javier Pastore, Daniele De Rossi and Diego Perotti for the game all through injury, meaning Di Francesco could revert his more customary 4-3-3. Justin Kluivert and Cengiz Under are expected to occupy either flank, which will be the first time the highly-rated youngsters have lined up from the start with each other. Who will occupy the space between them remains to be seen, with Patrik Schick preferred against Frosinone and Edin Dzeko returning against Lazio at the weekend. They have just the one goal between them this season, and it's something that could start to become a concern if it continues. There is a place in the squad again for Nicolo Zaniolo, who surprisingly started the match against Real. The young midfielder did reasonably well on his debut considering the circumstances, but still has a lot to learn, and needs to play in games like tonight's to build his confidence up. That's not to say Viktoria will be an easy task. They drew with CSKA Moscow in their Champions League opener, having taken a two goal lead. Their league form has been mixed, with wins over SFC Opava and Sparta Prague, but losses to Slavia Prague and Jablonec in the month of September. They still sit joint top of their divisi0n after 10 games though, and will want to make more of an impression on the European stage than they have in the past. This season is the third time they have made it to the group stages of the Champions League, but they have never progressed further. An upset tonight could help them change that. In the 2-2 draw with CSKA, both their goals were scored by Czech striker Michael Krmencik, who could pose a threat again tonight. Since returning to Viktoria in 2015 after a series of developing loan spells, he has scored 47 goals in all competitions, from just 92 appearances. It's an efficient record and one that his international teammate Schick must be envious of. Perhaps Schick will be given the nod ahead of Dzeko tonight given his familiarity with some of the opponents, although Dzeko's strength and hold-up play could be crucial against a physical opponent. The game kicks off at 8pm UK time. Possible Roma lineup: Olsen, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Santon, Nzonzi, Cristante, Pellegrini, Under, Schick, Kluivert Bragging rights were maintained on Saturday afternoon as Roma earned a 3-1 victory over major rivals Lazio. Roma claimed their second win in the space of four days after the midweek win over the other side from the region, Frosinone. In a game which saw Alessandro Florenzi playing as a winger for the first time this season and Lorenzo Pellegrini finding his form in a Roma shirt, the Giallorossi continued the positive momentum after a poor start to the season. Goal one: Lorenzo Pellegrini (1-0) Brought on as a first half substitute for Javier Pastore, Pellegrini was thrown into a more advanced position than usual, but the decision paid off, as he scored within eight minutes of coming on. Edin Dzeko headed on a long ball forward from the back, and Stephan El Shaarawy got in behind the defence. Although Thomas Strakosha closed the winger down quickly enough to prevent him from shooting, the ball fell to Pellegrini as Martin Caceres missed it. Pellegrini showed intelligence to backheel the ball into an empty net, not panicking when the chance to open the scoring came his way. His movement to get into the box, a result of his more attacking position, enabled him to earn the chance to score in the first place. Pellegrini's knowledge of the space around him helped him to pick out the gap in the target for his first goal in the Rome Derby, a special moment for a Roma fan. Goal two: Ciro Immobile (1-1) Lazio got back on level terms midway through the second half through Italy striker Immobile, after a mistake by Federico Fazio. Lazio passed the ball down the middle of the pitch, with little intensity in the press from Roma. However, a Lazio midfielder misplaced his pass, with the ball falling to Fazio. The defender wasn't on his toes, and the ball bounced off him and into Aleksandar Kolarov's feet. Kolarov played the ball awkwardly back to Fazio, and the Argentinian got in a tangle, losing possession with his back to goal. For someone as slow as Fazio, that's never an ideal situation. Immobile managed to dispossess him, leaving him with space to move into. After controlling the ball, Immobile shot across goal, with the ball going under Robin Olsen's body and into the far corner of the net. This goal was problematic for four reasons: the ease with which Lazio played out from the back and bypassed Roma's midfield; Fazio's failure to anticipate the play; Kolarov's decision to play it back to Fazio rather than clearing it, and Olsen's inability to stop the shot. Immobile is a clever finisher but this goal was preventable. Goal three: Aleksandar Kolarov (2-1) Just four minutes later though, and Roma were back in front. Previously, only Arne Selmosson had scored in a Rome Derby for either side, but Kolarov wrote his name in the history books by scoring against his former club to restore the advantage. The left-back stepped up to take a free kick from the edge of the box in a fairly central position. His curled effort moved swiftly as it went past the wall and beyond the reach of Strakosha, nestling in the bottom corner. Strakosha's positioning will be questioned, but Kolarov did what he had to do by placing the ball as far away from the keeper's grasp as possible. And yes, of course he celebrated. Goal four: Federico Fazio (3-1) Fazio made amends for his mistake in Immobile's goal by extending Roma's lead late in the game. Pellegrini stood over a free kick on the right and whipped it in with the perfect height and power. As it was an outswinger, it was easier for the attackers to place the ball where they wanted it to go, and it was Fazio who reaped the rewards of such a good delivery as he towered above his opponents and guided it into the net with a powerful header. Fazio's effort powered into the top corner thanks to his neck motion and the timing of his run, putting the icing on the cake for an impressive Derby win. Highlights from Serie A YouTube
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samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
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