GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma will look to continue the good form from previous weeks as they return from the international break with an away tie against Udinese.
The Giallorossi are unbeaten in their three games in November so far, with the most recent result being a 4-1 thrashing of Sampdoria. They will have to negotiate the fixture without key defender Kostas Manolas, who picked up an injury on international duty with Greece, and captain Daniele De Rossi, whose spell on the sidelines continues. Diego Perotti is also out. In his pre-match press conference, Eusebio Di Francesco confirmed that Patrik Schick will start the game, having scored for Czech Republic during the internationals. Aleksandar Kolarov is also expected to start, while Davide Santon has a chance of playing at right-back. Di Francesco may have one eye on the Champions League matchup with Real Madrid on Tuesday, meaning Edin Dzeko is likely to be rested. Udinese changed their coach during the international break and will be hoping to have found the man to revive their fortunes in Davide Nicola, who impressively steered Crotone away from relegation in the 2016-17 season. Tomorrow he will be calling upon key players such as Rolando Mandragora and Rodrigo De Paul as he looks to get his new job off to a good start. Roma need to make sure they do what’s expected and put in a solid performance to pick up from where they left off before the international break. The game kicks off at 2pm UK time tomorrow.
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Roma Women return from the international break with the opportunity to extend their three-game unbeaten run.
Roma host Chievo Verona, looking to build on wins over Florentia and Orobica, as well as a draw with Tavagnacco. After an indifferent start to life at Stadio Tre Fontane, Roma finally picked up their first home win two weeks ago, when they beat Orobica by a comfortable 3-0 scoreline. Today’s opponents, Chievo, are also unbeaten in three, but they have lost two of their three away games this season. Most recently, they drew 1-1 with Sassuolo, a result which saw them slip to 9th place in Serie A - one place lower than Roma. Roma can continue their ascent away from the relegation spots with a victory, potentially rising into the top half for the first time this season if other results go their way. Coach Betty Bavagnoli told Roma TV ahead of the game: "It's been a good period, with three good results. We need to keep building on that and continue to find consistency. "We know we are on a journey, that this is a big project we are building. We have worked hard during the international break." Forwards Agnese Bonfantini and Annamaria Serturini will be hoping to get on the scoresheet today - they have each netted twice this season, with only captain Elisa Bartoli also scoring more than once. However, the attackers will have competition for places, with Martina Piemonte cleared to return after a head injury. The game kicks off at 1:30pm and fans can watch it on the AS Roma Women Twitter page. Roma ensured they headed into the international break on a high with an emphatic 4-1 win over Sampdoria.
The result meant Roma won at home in Serie A for the first time since September, and lifts the Giallorossi up to sixth place in the table. Stephan El Shaarawy scored a brace to extend his lead as Roma's top scorer in domestic action this season, increasing his tally to five goals - three more than any other player. Here's how all the goals went in. Goal one: Juan Jesus (1-0) Roma's opening goal came in the first half from an unlikely source in Juan Jesus, who showed some attacking intent in his serious effort to finish the move off. Roma won a corner on the right-hand side, which Lorenzo Pellegrini took. The Italian midfielder's delivery has really improved this season, with his newfound set piece ability meaning he has recorded five assists in all competitions - already the same amount as he did in the entirety of last season. It was Bryan Cristante who reacted most effectively to Pellegrini's cross, rising above the defenders and aiming his header towards the far post. As the ball sailed past on-loan Juventus goalkeeper Emil Audero, Jesus raced to the ball to snatch the goal for himself, tapping it in to become Roma's 13th different scorer this season. Goal two: Patrik Schick (2-0) It's been a difficult first year-and-a-bit in Rome for Patrik Schick, but the Czech forward relished his rare opportunity to start as a centre-forward, marking the occasion with a goal against his previous club in the second half. Roma worked the move down the left wing, with Steven Nzonzi feeding it to Pellegrini, who quickly turned the ball round the corner to El Shaarawy. The winger was direct in his approach and started to drift inside before showing great awareness to spot the overlap of Aleksandar Kolarov. The left-back played the ball across the face of goal with pace and Schick showed the desire to get there first, sidefooting it across Audero for 2-0. Like Jesus, it was Schick's first goal of the season, meaning 14 players have now found the back of the net for Roma this term. Goal three: Stephan El Shaarawy (3-0) Kolarov was a key part of the next goal too, picking up the ball just inside the Sampdoria half and beating three opponents with a pass through to El Shaarawy. The 26-year-old controlled it well with a positive first touch, before Audero did enough to put him off. However, as the ball drifted out to the left-hand side of the box, El Shaarawy regained possession, cutting back onto his stronger right foot and noticing Audero off his line. The winger pulled off an exquisite curled chip, with the ball sailing over Audero's fingertips and into the far corner of the goal. It was a great demonstration El Shaarawy's attacking intent and ability to achieve the spectacular. Goal four: Gregoire Defrel (3-1) With Schick scoring against his former employers for Roma, it seemed almost inevitable that ex-forward Gregoire Defrel would come back to haunt the Giallorossi. Fortunately for Roma, the in-form French striker's goal was a mere consolation, rather than a game-changer that would have been a bitter pill to swallow. Nonetheless, the ease with which he made a chance and scored will have brought some distress to Eusebio Di Francesco. As a cross came in from Jacopo Sala on the right wing, with no defender trying to block it, Kostas Manolas mistimed his attempt at heading the ball away. It dropped into Defrel, and the striker executed a clever one-touch turn to bypass Alessandro Florenzi and leave him with just Robin Olsen to beat. Defrel quickly pulled the trigger before Olsen could tighten the angle, ensuring he marked his return to the Olimpico with a goal. Goal four: Stephan El Shaarawy (4-1) Roma sealed the victory with another impressive goal that highlighted their ability to create chances from tight areas. Edin Dzeko headed on Florenzi's throw in, with Cengiz Under bringing it under control. With two bodies marking him, Under fantastically backheeled the ball back to Dzeko on his right shoulder, giving the striker space to run into. As he reached the edge of the penalty area, Dzeko weighted a through ball into the path of El Shaarawy. Despite Audero getting a fingertip to it, he couldn't intercept the pass, and El Shaarawy touched it inside to leave himself with an easy sidefoot finish. It rounded out a comprehensive win that sees Roma get back on track with their first league win in four games. They remain unbeaten from three matches in November. Roma will be looking for their first home league win in over a month when they face Sampdoria on Sunday afternoon.
Roma haven’t won a Serie A game at Stadio Olimpico since beating Lazio at the end of September, and need to pick up all the points they can get if they are to revive their ambitions for the season. They head into the Sampdoria fixture - their last game before the international break - off the back of a 2–1 win over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, but they have drawn their last two Serie A games 1-1. Sampdoria have also hit a rough patch of late, losing 4-1 to Torino last week. They are winless in over a month, and have slipped to 12th in the table despite a promising start, which included a 3-0 win over title challengers Napoli. The top scorer for Marco Giampaolo’s side this season is a certain Gregoire Defrel, the French striker who was a massive disappointment at Roma last season. It would add insult to injury if the 27-year-old was to score a decisive goal against his parent club today. The other ex-Roma attacker in their ranks, Gianluca Caprari, has weighed in with two goals from seven league games, while Fabio Quagliarella remains a danger man even at the age of 35. Midfield creators Dennis Praet and Gaston Ramirez could cause problems for Roma, while Joachim Andersen has been everpresent at the back. The Danish defender renewed his contract at Sampdoria in the week, despite interest from Inter, Juventus and Manchester United. For Roma, ex-Sampdoria man Patrik Schick will start the game, although Eusebio Di Francesco refused to confirm whether he would do so on the wing or up front. Justin Kluivert has a chance of retaining his place in the starting lineup, while Juan Jesus could be restored at centre-back. Daniele De Rossi, Diego Perotti and Javier Pastore miss the game through injury, however. The game gets underway at 2pm UK time. Expected Roma lineup: Roma put themselves in a very healthy position in Group G of the Champions League on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow. There was room for improvement in the performance, but all in all, it was an important marker, as Roma won away in the competition for the first time since September last year, when they beat Qarabag by the same scoreline. Goal one: Kostas Manolas (1-0) A man who continues to be one of Roma's most influential players, the Greek defender gave his side the lead in the fourth minute. Roma won a corner, which Lorenzo Pellegrini swung in. Manolas rose amid a sea of defenders, heading towards goal. Igor Akinfeev flapped at it, with the ball going over the Russian keeper and into the net. Manolas timed his jump perfectly to get a clean header away. Using an opponent for leverage, he was strong as he rose into the air. He used the side of his forehead to aim the ball at the goal, and although it wasn't his most powerful connection, Akinfeev's mistimed attempt at punching the ball away led to it dropping into the goal. Goal two: Arnor Sigurdsson (1-1) There was also an early goal in the second half, with Arnor Sigurdsson scoring his first CSKA goal. A CSKA player ran down the right wing, driving inside before passing to Sigurdsson. Davide Santon tried to put in a challenge, but he was just off balance, allowing Sigurdsson to break past him. The attacker held off further pressure from the Roma full-back to finish into the far corner, beyond the reach of Robin Olsen. Goal three: Lorenzo Pellegrini (2-1) Roma's winner came in rather fortunate circumstances. Bryan Cristante miscontrolled Aleksandar Kolarov's pass infield, and as the ball popped up in front of him, the midfielder then mistimed his attempt at a volley. However, after a deflection, it landed at the feet of Pellegrini. The Italian's touch took it behind him, but instead of reacting poorly, Pellegrini quickly recovered his footing and slotted home at the nearpost. Having beat the offside trap, Roma's number seven backed himself on his weaker foot, and his confidence played into Roma's hands, securing a result which put them in the driving seat for knockout stage qualification. Roma can take a significant step towards qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win over CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.
In the last matchday, Roma convincingly beat the Russian side 3-0, and if they can overcome them again tomorrow, they will be five points clear of them with two games remaining. That would leave Roma needing just one point from their final two games to reach the Last 16. However, it may not be as comfortable for Roma this time around. The Giallorossi have lost their last five away games in the Champions League, and have often struggled in Eastern Europe. To complicate things further, inspirational CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev will return for the opposition, having missed the return fixture through suspension. Hoping to get the better of him will be Edin Dzeko, who has been fundamental to Roma's efforts on the European stage in recent years. He is the only player to have reached double figures in Champions League goals across 2018. Five of his 10 goals have come in this season's group stage, including a brace last time against CSKA. After a disappointing display against Fiorentina on Saturday, Dzeko will be hoping to return to his best on the stage that suits him most. Justin Kluivert is set to start the game, having not seen a great deal of action since his summer switch from Ajax. The Dutch winger scored against Viktoria Plzen on matchday two, and will be hoping to use this opportunity to make a claim for more playing time. His competitor for the left wing role, Stephan El Shaarawy, has been fairly inconsistent recently, but has weighed in with goals and assists, so Kluivert will be looking to increase his end product. Tomorrow's game kicks off earlier than usual, at 5:55pm UK time, and can be watched on BT Sport/ESPN with coverage starting from 10 minutes before kick off. Expected Roma lineup: One week after missing out on three points due to a stoppage time equaliser, Roma this time benefitted from a late goal as they came back to draw 1-1 with Fiorentina. The Stadio Artemio Franchi has been a difficult place for visitors this season, and Roma found out why in a frustrating match of football. Edin Dzeko wasted a couple of chances, while Nicolo Zaniolo, a surprise inclusion in the starting lineup, wasn't afraid to try his luck, but couldn't get his first Serie A goal. Fiorentina had plenty of chances themselves, but only three of their 14 shots were on target. They had a golden opportunity in the second half when Federico Chiesa broke in behind the Giallorossi defence, but Giovanni Simeone couldn't latch onto his pass for what would have been a tap in. It took a late equaliser for Roma to snatch a point, meaning it's two consecutive 1-1 draws for the Giallorossi. Goal one: Jordan Veretout (0-1) Roma fell behind in the first half after a controversial penalty decision. Cengiz Under tried to play the ball back to Robin Olsen, but Fiorentina forward Giovanni Simeone latched onto the pass. As Olsen came out to thwart him, Simeone went down after the faintest contact. Replays showed it was actually Simeone who kicked Olsen in the head, rather than the foul being the other way, but VAR failed to overturn the decision. Once the decision had been made, it was up to Olsen to try and stop Jordan Veretout's penalty, but there wasn't much he could so as the French midfielder sent it flying into the top corner. Whilst the officials made a clear mistake in awarding the penalty, the situation could have been averted without Under's sloppy pass. It was a risk to play the ball back to the goalkeeper from his position, especially given the lack of pace in Roma's defence. Simeone had ghosted between Federico Fazio and Juan Jesus, who should also have dealt with the situation better, and was ready to pounce before the spot kick was given. Goal two: Alessandro Florenzi (1-1) Captain for the day in the absence of Daniele De Rossi, Florenzi dug his team out of a hole with a late equaliser. The ball went wide to Aleksandar Kolarov, who got the ball out of his feet and played a deep cross into the box. Goalkeeper Alban Lafont parried the ball away, with Florenzi swinging at the ball with his left foot. It bounced into the ground before crossing the line to make it 1-1. Florenzi shot with instinct, not overthinking the action. While the connection wasn't clean, his urgency to get the ball in the net made it a difficult situation for the Fiorentina defenders to deal with. Even though Lafont was stranded, Florenzi still had a sea of defenders to shoot through, but he didn't worry about pinpoint precision. He found his space, knew he had to shoot quickly, and found the bottom corner to ensure Roma avoided a defeat. Highlights from Serie A YouTube
Roma Women’s busiest week yet comes to a close today with a home tie against Orobica.
It will be the third game the side have played in the last week, during which they recorded their first ever win against Florentia and then fought back to draw 2-2 with Tavagnacco. Roma are above Orobica in the table, with the opponents winning one and losing four of their opening five games. However, Orobica would overtake Roma if they won, so Betty Bavagnoli’s side will have to be on their guard. They will be boosted by the return of defender Eleonora Cunsolo, who will add another important option to the backline. Cunsolo is yet to feature this season, so her presence will be a boost for the squad. Bavagnoli is keen not to underestimate today’s opponents. She told the club’s website: “We aren’t looking at where Orobica are in the league, we respect our opponents but will play our game to try and take all three points.” Roma are still without a competitive win at Stadio Tre Fontane this season, but with this the second of three consecutive home games, they will be looking to put that right. The match, which is Roma’s last for two weeks (a time during which they will find out their Coppa Italia Round of 16 opponents), kicks off at 2pm UK time. Roma will be looking to build on a positive draw with Napoli when they face Fiorentina on Saturday evening, but will be without a key figure in midfield.
Last time out, Roma were denied the three points against title challengers Napoli by a late goal, but Eusebio Di Francesco will be hoping it can be a turning point for the season. Roma face a difficult start to November with this game followed by a trip to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League and a Serie A home tie against Sampdoria, but coming so close to upsetting their rivals last week could have made a platform to build on. If Roma are to beat Fiorentina tomorrow, they will have to do so without influential captain Daniele De Rossi, who is ruled out for up to three games. This could provide an opportunity for Bryan Cristante to slot in the side, a player whose life at Roma hasn't started as well as he would have hoped. With a strong chance of playing three games in the next week, the midfielder has an opportunity to prove himself. Di Francesco suggested that Justin Kluivert could start on the wing, with Javier Pastore also available for selection again. Fiorentina have an identical record to Roma, with four wins, three draws and three defeats this season. However, unlike Roma, they have been strong at home this year, and are yet to taste defeat at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Meanwhile, Roma have won just two of their five away Serie A games. They will need to re-write the form book if they are to return to Rome with three points. Seven players have been involved in all 10 of Fiorentina's games, including on-loan Roma midfielder Gerson. The Brazilian didn't get much of a chance at Roma, although he did score a brace against La Viola last season, and he has relished the opportunity of more playing time, having already made the same number of starts this season as he did last year. Roma will be hoping he doesn't come back to haunt them. Key for Fiorentina, as usual, will be Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Simeone. The two young forwards have been an integral part of the side recently, and will be looking to get at a Roma defence that still looks inconsistent. Di Francesco has named several different defensive combinations, and it still seems as if he is unsure on his best option. Whoever is selected tomorrow will need to be at their best to prevent a dangerous strike force. Tomorrow's game kicks off at 5pm UK time. |
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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