GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Daniele De Rossi gave away a penalty in a moment of madness as Roma could only draw 1-1 with Genoa.
After a slow first half, Roma took the lead through Stephan El Shaarawy, whose performance improved when he was switched to the left wing. His finish was superb, as he hit the ball to the far post with great technique. However, the lead was thrown away as De Rossi slapped Gianluca Lapadula in the face whilst both were stood in the penalty box. After consulting VAR, the referee awarded a penalty and brandished a red card for De Rossi. Lapadula converted the penalty to give the home side a point. Here are three of the main talking points from the game. Fatigue Setting In? Some of Roma’s big players didn’t perform well in the game, looking tired after a run of high intensity games. Namely, Aleksandar Kolarov and Edin Dzeko were disappointing. Roma’s two most used outfield players, neither looked as if they were going to have an impact like they usually have this season. Kolarov’s set piece delivery was in general poor, whilst Dzeko received minimal service once again. Perhaps this game was an indication that both have been playing too much football recently. Moment of Stupidity Costs Roma As captain of this team, Daniele De Rossi should lead by example. He should display maturity and responsibility, but instead he showed the opposite as he gave away the crucial penalty. He did not look like the experienced player he ought to at his age, and his rash decision to strike Lapadula in the face made the remainder of the encounter difficult for his teammates. Schick Makes Positive Cameo It’s been a long time coming, but Patrik Schick finally made his return to the pitch in the late stages of the game. The young Czech striker tried hard in his brief spell on the pitch, looking determined to make an impact in the little time he had. Over the next few weeks he will look to get more game time and begin to repay some of the investment Roma have made in him with his performances on the pitch.
0 Comments
A trip to Liguria can present an opportunity for Roma to immediately bounce back to winning ways after a disappointing loss to Atletico Madrid.
Sunday’s opponents Genoa are struggling again in Serie A this year, currently placed 18th in the table. They have picked up just nine points in thirteen games so far. Their two wins this season have both come away from home, as they overcame Cagliari and Crotone. A draw against AC Milan at the San Siro one month ago was another impressive result. It was Genoa that Roma beat on the final day of last season to secure automatic Champions League qualification. The winning goal on that memorable day was scored by ex-Genoa man Diego Perotti, who has been in good form recently. The Argentinian will surely be looking to make an impact against his former club again. Meanwhile, there are a number of former Giallorossi players plying their trade at the Marassi. Roma youth products Aleandro Rosi, Federico Ricci and Andrea Bertolacci could all be involved tomorrow, as could former defender Ervin Zukanovic. Elsewhere, Genoa aren’t short of talent for a team in their position; Mattia Perin is a goalkeeper good enough to make Italy squads, Miguel Veloso brings experience in midfield, and Pietro Pellegri is one to watch up front at 16 years old. He has already scored against Roma, finding the net last season in that 3-2 Lupi win. Davide Ballardini replaced Ivan Juric at the helm at Genoa on 6th November this year. He has only had one game so far, the 1-0 victory over Crotone, and will be looking to continue his positive start at his new club. With Crotone awaiting again in the Coppa Italia and Verona the next league game after Roma, he certainly has a chance to make a good impression early on. Roma will be hoping that an upset against them isn’t one of the results contributing to any good start from Genoa’s new coach. It’s likely that Eusebio Di Francesco will continue his rotation policy after a midweek away Champions League game, meaning there could be opportunities for different players. Perhaps Juan Jesus or Stephan El Shaarawy could be restored to the starting line up. Another man who will finally be in the squad is Patrik Schick, who has been training with the main squad recently. Could the summer signing come off the bench late on to make an impact? Against Genoa, Roma will still have to field a strong team and retain high concentration levels against an outfit that could potentially be a threat. Roma will be expected to get three points, but not without hard work and a professional performance. Roma will look to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages tomorrow night as they travel to Spain to face Atletico Madrid.
Avoiding defeat will be enough to definitely see Roma through, regardless of the result between Chelsea and Qarabag. It has been an extraordinary Champions League campaign so far, with Roma the only unbeaten team in the group. Given that Roma were the third seed, that's a remarkable accomplishment. If Roma can maintain that unbeaten Champions League record, they will be assured of a place in the hat for the Last 16 draw - and if they win, it's likely they'll progress as group champions. That doesn't mean tomorrow's game will be easy - Atletico Madrid remain a well-drilled side always capable of performing on the European stage. However, they aren't in the greatest run of form at present, and Roma will look to capitalise on that. Diego Simeone's men have drawn a remarkable seven of their last nine games, failing to score more than one goal in any of them. This has included unexpected draws with Qarabag (twice), Elche and Leganes. And whilst they have prevented Real Madrid and Barcelona beating them, they certainly won't be happy with their recent record. Midfielder Thomas Partey has been in good scoring form, netting in three of the last five games. However, star man Antoine Griezmann is without a goal since his penalty against Chelsea in September, perhaps reflective of the way his team have dried up as a whole. If Atletico are to succeed again, they need to get the Frenchman firing. In the previous match between the two sides this season, Atletico were on top, with eighteen shots to Roma's eight. Heroics from Alisson ensured Roma kept their visitors at bay and were awarded with a point. The 0-0 draw was a big result, showing good spirit and defensive resilience from Eusebio Di Francesco's team. The line up that day didn't feature Federico Fazio or Stephan El Shaarawy. Either of these players could be looking to make a difference tomorrow and help Roma achieve a better result against the Spaniards. El Shaarawy in particular will be looking to continue his good European form - he scored two very good goals in the last Champions League match against Chelsea. Roma go in to tomorrow's game with nothing to fear. Atletico are not in the greatest period of form, and have failed to win a single game in the Champions League this season. Di Francesco's team must back themselves to get a result against their opponents and continue the remarkable European campaign. Once again, a significant match awaits Roma following their return from an international break.
Last time Napoli were the opponents as Roma came back to league matters, and this time an even more meaningful game will be the subject of the squad’s attention: the derby against Lazio. Games against Lazio are always meaningful and played at a high intensity, and Saturday’s encounter will be no different. The two rivals are both in great form as they approach the fixture - Roma have won eight of their last ten games, whilst Lazio are on a nine-game winning streak, including a 2-1 win at Juventus. Neither will want to sacrifice their excellent records against their long-standing enemies. Tactically, it should be a case of 4-3-3 against 3-5-2. Eusebio Di Francesco has rarely wavered from his preferred 4-3-3 formation this season, whilst Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi has tended to opt for a back three. In last season’s games, Inzaghi set up his team quite deep, limiting the space for Roma’s attack. Creativity will be needed if he fields the same tactics again. Both sides have top strikers in the shape of Edin Dzeko and Ciro Immobile. Roma have last season’s Capocannoniere winner in Dzeko, whilst Lazio’s Immobile currently leads the way in terms of league goals this season. Both of them have missed out on World Cup qualification with their countries, and will be keen to show that it will be the tournament’s loss by scoring on Saturday. As stated, both teams are likely to field three central midfielders, an area where an exciting battle could take place. Roma will hope the talented trio of Daniele De Rossi, Kevin Strootman and Radja Nainggolan (should he be passed fit) can get the better of their rivals’ midfield. In particular, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been standing out for Lazio since he joined them, and is now reportedly drawing interest from Juventus, Manchester City and Manchester United. He scored in both legs of the Derby in last season’s Coppa Italia semi final, and Di Francesco will be hoping that the Spanish-born Serbian doesn’t net against Roma again. Also impressing in Lazio’s midfield has been Luis Alberto, the former Liverpool man who recently earned his first Spain cap. Alberto has been deployed either as a central midfielder or a number 10, and Roma will have to ensure he doesn’t have an impact during the game. For Roma, several players have been impressing this season, notably Alisson and Aleksandar Kolarov. Stephan El Shaarawy was also in exceptional form prior to the international break, and will be looking to pick up where he left off. However, sometimes the Derby has brought the best out of some of Roma’s less ‘important’ players. Juan Manuel Iturbe and Mapou Yanga-M’Biwa were the goalscorers in May 2015’s 2-1 win; could another unlikely hero emerge on Saturday? All in all, Roma have reason to be confident ahead of the Derby. After disappointing against their rivals last season, it’s time to bring some pride back to the red and yellow half of Rome. Eusebio Di Francesco will be hoping that his team has the passion and ability to do that. The preparations are continuing ahead of this weekend's eagerly anticipated Rome derby. For the third of this week's Derby themed articles, let's take a look at five great goals that Roma have scored against their rivals in the 21st Century. 5. Simone Perrotta (31/10/07) One of Roma's World Cup winning players from 2006, midfielder Perrotta scored his side's third goal in a 3-2 win over Lazio in 2007. At the end of a positive move, Perrotta lifted the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper, before being able to cushion the ball into an empty net. 4. Alessandro Florenzi (3/4/16) There aren't many better things than seeing a diehard Roma fan scoring a wonder goal in the Derby Della Capitale. Alessandro Florenzi did just that in a memorable game in 2016. Wearing the captain's armband, the versatile Roman smashed home a great volley from outside the box as the ball came back out from a corner. It was Roma's third goal in a 4-1 victory and was a truly special moment, from a special player. 3. Vincenzo Montella (10/3/02) Montella had a bit of a field day in 2002, as he put four past Lazio in an extraordinary 5-1 win. The last of his four goals was arguably the most spectacular, as he smashed the ball home from distance with his left foot. The powerful strike clipped the underside of the crossbar before falling satisfyingly into the bottom corner of the net. 2. Mancini (9/11/03) With an exquisite piece of technique, Brazilian Mancini scored one of the best goals seen in recent Derby Della Capitale history. Converting Antonio Cassano's free kick with a sublime backheel finish, he created a small slice of Roma history. It would have been one thing to score any kind of goal with a backheel, but the fact that this shot was expertly placed to the far corner makes it even more special. 1. Francesco Totti (10/3/02) Whilst it was Montella who scored four in that infamous 5-1 win, the best goal that day was scored, of course, by Francesco Totti. Spotting Angelo Peruzzi off his line, Totti did what he knew how to do best, and chipped the stranded keeper from distance. Displaying superb technique as always, Er Pupone completed the scoring in one of Roma's greatest games of recent times. And he certainly saved the best until last. No player has scored more goals in Rome derby history than Totti, and this was surely the greatest. It's an excellent way to round off this list. It hasn't all been a smooth ride up to this point, but Eusebio Di Francesco is sat in a very healthy position as head coach of Roma at present.
He had his skeptics at first, but he has transformed the team into a successful unit, gaining results whatever the levels of performance, and with most members of the squad seeming to have rediscovered their mojo. He has set up his team to overcome great challenges, and thanks to his man-management skills and tactics, some fantastic results have followed. Who would have thought that this Roma team could have picked up four points from two games against Premier League champions Chelsea? Or that defence would be one of Roma's strongest points, with nine clean sheets in all competitions to date? However, Di Francesco's biggest test as Roma boss still awaits. On Saturday evening he will have his first taste of the Rome derby as a coach, the kind of game that can outdo even the most experienced of managers. It's a game where tactics can go out of the window, and pure passion comes to the fore. A game where the players need to be rallied in order to play to their full potential, and where they need to be reminded of the significance of the game for the fans. Nonetheless, any coach leading a side in the Derby Della Capitale must be careful not to let the emotions get on top of their side. Whilst they will demand extra passion from the squad, they also need to keep them firmly grounded so that they carry out their roles professionally. The players can't afford to get caught up in the emotion of the occasion and lose focus of their job. So, it is a difficult game to manage, one like no other. It can be a great challenge to find a balance between these two necessary features - passion and organisation. And it's certainly unlike anything Di Francesco has encountered before as a coach. The game is also compounded by the form of Lazio at present. He will be fully aware that Roma are currently behind their rivals in the Serie A table, and Saturday presents an opportunity to correct that. Even at this early stage of the season, it means a lot for Roma to be able to stamp their authority over the city and show that they are Rome's best team. To do so will require a great performance, as EDF will look to bring a halt to Lazio's nine-game winning streak. With all these factors considered, it is evident that Saturday night's game will be Di Francesco's toughest test yet as head coach of Roma - perhaps even of his entire coaching career. But it is one that he can come out of successfully; with all his man-management techniques, he will be able to get his players pumped and ready for the occasion, raring to go at their maximum level in a very significant game. It's Derby week in Rome, and the anticipation is growing ahead of an always exciting fixture. The Derby Della Capitale is one of the fiercest rivalries in world football - but that hasn't stopped some brave players crossing the dividing lines and playing for both clubs. Here are five examples:
Attilio Ferraris IV The very first player to represent both Rome clubs, Ferraris held a number of other interesting feats to his name as well. He was Roma's first captain and first Italian international. He was part of the Roma side that won the club's first trophy (the Coppa CONI) in 1928, and he added a World Cup medal to his personal collection in 1934. However, lifestyle issues off the pitch tainted his reputation on it, and he was eventually sold to Lazio, in a shock move, in 1934. Along with the fee of 150,000 lire was a clause that would result in a fine should he feature in a Derby. Despite this, he did feature against Roma, and ended up playing for Lazio for two years. He died in 1947 at the age of 43. Fulvio Bernardini A teammate of Ferraris' and his successor as captain, Bernardini had a large influence on Roma and was renowned for his fantastic technical ability. Despite starting his playing career at Lazio, he arrived at Roma after a spell with Inter, and found his home. Bernardini would go on to play for Roma for eleven years and cemented himself in the club's history; in 2012, he was one of the first names inducted into the club's Hall of Fame. After his playing career he became a successful manager, and, as in his playing days, he represented both Rome clubs in this role. In 1984, Roma's training complex was named the Centro Sportivo Fulvio Bernardini by President Dino Viola in his honour. Arne Selmosson The Swedish striker who joined Roma from their cross-city rivals in 1958, Selmosson became the first - and still the only - player to score for both clubs in Derby games. He scored thirty goals in total for Roma over a three-year spell. Angelo Peruzzi The Italian goalkeeper started his career with Roma in 1986, but would go on to have more success elsewhere later on. After returning to Roma from Verona in 1990, he was sold to Juventus after a year, after being found guilty of doping. He went on to have prolonged success in Turin, before joining Inter for a season. After that, he concluded his career with a seven-year spell at Lazio. He played 192 times for the Biancocelesti, much more than he did for Roma. During that time, he was the goalkeeper in the infamous 2002 Derby, in which he conceded five goals - four from Vincenzo Montella and an exquisite Francesco Totti chip. A game that hasn't been mentioned for the last time this week... Aleksandar Kolarov Kolarov is no stranger to the Rome Derby having previously featured in it for Lazio, but those memories will be put far behind him on Saturday as he has his first experience of the fixture in Giallorossi colours. The Serbian is having an outstanding start to the season at Roma having joined in the summer, and will look to continue that as he takes on his former employers at the weekend. Having scored against Roma in 2009, can he follow in Selmosson's footsteps and become just the second player to score for both sides in a Derby? Come back tomorrow for another Derby Della Capitale article! The reception when Roma signed Aleksandar Kolarov in the summer was somewhat mixed. Some fans were eager to see what he could contribute to the team, whilst others were concerned with his Lazio past.
Now, nearly three months into the season, even the most stubborn of Roma fans will have a great level of appreciation for Kolarov. Any doubts fans had about him have been cast far aside, thanks to his outstanding performances on the pitch. He has certainly made an impression. Kolarov has stood out due to his unwavering professionalism. He knows what it's like to play at the top level, having been involved with Manchester City for seven years. This experience is being reflected on the pitch consistently, as his knowledge of the game shines through in his displays. Even at this stage in his career, Kolarov is working hard to have an impact. He is putting himself at the team's use, having played in all but one game, and he has always performed with maximum effort. The Serbian full back has even got on the scoresheet three times, with a great strike in the 3-3 draw with Chelsea and a clever free kick struck under the wall in the season opener at Atalanta. He opted to go over the wall for his other Serie A goal for the club, against Torino. His willingness to get forward often is crucial for how this team and system works effectively. And his fitness levels have been commendable, given his workload and age. His crossing ability has also come in handy on several occasions, with him providing several assists for his teammates. This is a major factor in Roma's success this year, and is very welcome, given that other full backs of recent years have not excelled with their crossing. Kolarov, in contrast, has stood out for his ability to play a good ball into the box, and thanks to that ability he has four assists to his name across two competitions so far. The international break has now arrived, but a big game awaits after it. Roma will face Kolarov's former side Lazio in what promises to be a competitive and exciting Derby. Perhaps if there are still a minority of fans unwilling to see past his former connection with the club's rivals, a good performance in that game will be all that is needed to definitively convince them of Kolarov's value. And with the way he has played for Roma so far, you wouldn't expect him to be anything less than brilliant. Kolarov has certainly proved himself since his arrival, and has shown he can still compete at the top level. Roma should be grateful to have him, and all the qualities he brings, as he continues to help the team succeed. The two sides involved in tomorrow's match up between Roma and Fiorentina will be fairly evenly matched in terms of ability. Roma arguably have a slight technical advantage, taking into consideration the current state of the league table, and how it finished last season. But Fiorentina are a side with high expectations as well, and have several players with good ability. For Roma, tomorrow's encounter may be won not by technique, but by fitness.
Roma are currently in the middle of a challenging run of fixtures, in which top level football will need to be played consistently. Coming off the back of a superb, but physically draining, performance against Chelsea, there will be no ease back into domestic matters. Once again, Roma will have to play to the best of their abilities against an opponent who will also believe they have a chance of winning. Against top opposition, it is important that Eusebio Di Francesco fields as strong a starting eleven as possible. Whilst some of the squad's so-called depth players have impressed when called upon - Lorenzo Pellegrini in particular - it is expected that most of them won't start against higher level opponents. Therefore, several of the players involved in midweek will have to be ready to work hard and go again, at a high intensity. We already know of the abilities that players like Radja Nainggolan, Edin Dzeko, and the in-form Stephan El Shaarawy possess, and it is essential that these abilities shine through tomorrow. However, more importantly, these players need to prove they have the fitness levels to match. Whilst there has been a reasonable rest period between Tuesday's win and kick off tomorrow, they can all be expected to be called upon again, and will need to play to their maximum potential once more. They are professional athletes, but this can still be a challenge, potentially compounded by the efforts of the opponents. We may not see an unchanged lineup fielded by EDF, but after such an impressive performance, it makes sense to make as few changes to the eleven as practical. The players who are selected to start again will need to approach the game with a similar mentality, and put the Chelsea game out of their mind immediately to focus on the task at hand. This requires the thing that could be the decisive factor over the ninety minutes - hard work. Intensity will be the key tomorrow and the players shouldn't be expecting a rest. Whilst Fiorentina should pose less of a threat than Chelsea, they will not be afraid of Roma, who cannot afford to play at second or third gear. The result of the game will indicate just how capable the players are of playing at high levels often. If they can show the mental and physical toughness required to do so against good sides, it will send a clear message about Roma's credentials to the rest of the competition in Serie A. Roma will look to continue the positive momentum after four straight wins, all with clean sheets, culminating in a great 3-0 Champions League win over Chelsea in midweek. Fiorentina are a team under transition, to some extent, with a new head coach this season, and perhaps are still recovering from the departure of star man Federico Bernadeschi in the summer. La Viola seem to have hit a small stumbling block recently, so can they present an opportunity for Roma to continue the good run?
Form: In Fiorentina's last game, they fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat to Crotone. Their results overall have been mixed, with them generally beating teams lower in the table than them, but falling to those above them. They are, as usual, expected to challenge for Europe, but will need to cut out the occasional slip ups to realise that ambition. The 3-0 win over Torino prior to the Crotone game is the kind of result they need to be turning out consistently if they are to achieve their targets. The Coach: Stefano Pioli Pioli took over from Paulo Sousa in the summer. The former Lazio boss arrived after an unsuccessful stint with Inter, and has returned to the club he featured most for as a player. His Fiorentina record so far reads five wins, one draw and five losses. He has been using a 4-3-3 system recently, although he fielded a 4-2-3-1 on multiple occasions earlier in the season. The Key Player: Marco Benassi A shrewd summer signing from Torino, Benassi has gone on to play in all but one of La Viola's league games. The midfielder captained Italy's Under 21s at this summer's European Championships, and at the age of 23, he has plenty of top level football ahead of him. He has already stepped up to the challenge at his new club, making three goals and two assists. There is no reason why he can't go on to become a lynchpin of Fiorentina sides of the future. The Familiar Face: Davide Astori The centre back spent one season on loan at Roma, in 2014-15. Following that he left Cagliari, from whom he had been on loan, for Fiorentina. He is now the captain of the club and a key part of their backline. Aged 30, his experience is of great importance to their setup. Prediction: It's another tough test for Roma, but they will be hoping to capitalise on Fiorentina's slip up last time out. That said, the opponents will no doubt be fired up to return to winning ways, making for what should be an entertaining, close game. |
samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
All
Archives
October 2019
|