GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma will be looking for redemption when they take on fierce rivals Lazio in the first Derby Della Capitale of the season on Sunday.
It's a game that gives Roma the chance to right two wrongs - that of being beaten 3-0 the last time the two sides met, which proved to be Eusebio Di Francesco's last Serie A game in charge, and not being able to beat Genoa on the opening day of the season. Both rivals have made some interesting changes over the summer, with the red side of the city bringing in new coach Paulo Fonseca and sporting director Gianluca Petrachi, not to mention a whole host of new players, while the blue side have brought in the likes of Manuel Lazzari and Denis Vavro. Simone Inzaghi's side won their first game of the season, against Di Francesco's Sampdoria, whereas Roma have a point to prove in what is technically their first away game of the season, despite it being played at Stadio Olimpico. Roma's opening game saw them pegged back three times by Genoa, despite some promising performances from the likes of Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini. However, no places are guaranteed, with Fonseca confirming at his press conference that Jordan Veretout and Amadou Diawara are ready to compete for the starting berths in midfield. It could be a baptism of fire for any of the new additions, ready to be thrown into the cauldron of one of the most competitive and passionate rivalries in world football. Davide Zappacosta could make his first start for the club after coming on as a substitute against Genoa, with Alessandro Florenzi pushing to the left wing, while new signing Chris Smalling will be involved in the squad - although the Englishman may not start. The game kicks off at 5pm UK time and will be shown live on Premier Sports 1. Expected lineup: Lopez; Zappacosta, Fazio, Mancini, Kolarov; Pellegrini, Cristante; Under, Zaniolo, Florenzi; Dzeko
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Roma came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night, in what was probably their toughest test of pre-season so far.
After Iker Muniain had put the Basque club ahead with a poacher's finish, Aleksandar Kolarov pulled things level in the second half with an extraordinary free kick from 30 yards out. Late on, each side converted a penalty, with Raul Garcia scoring for the visitors and Lorenzo Pellegrini coolly dispatching a spot kick which had been incorrectly awarded to Roma, after the ball had actually come into contact with Nicolo Zaniolo's hand, rather than an opponent's.
Although still just a friendly, there were some warning signs for Paulo Fonseca to pick up on before the Serie A campaign kicks off. Over-commitment to playing out from the back Fonseca's philosophy is starting to become more and more apparent, with the coach clearly favouring an approach which sees his side play out from the back. However, there needs to be some flexibility. Often, Roma put themselves under pressure by starting too deep, with Athletic ready to pounce by deploying several players in the Giallorossi half. The new rule which states that the ball does not have to go out of the box from a goal kick worked against Roma in some regards, as it invited the La Liga side to press them higher up the pitch. Fonseca wants to see Roma play a courageous game, and that's a good thing, but the players need to fine-tune things a little more if his style is to be successful. Roma slow to spot the switch When Roma got in more advanced positions, the possession-based game still lacked the appropriate dynamism. Often a full-back or winger would be open on the opposite side of the pitch, but the ball rarely travelled straight to them. Instead, Roma got the ball out wide via another player in between, which slowed down the pace - and thus reduced the danger - of the attack, by allowing Athletic to get across into the correct defensive positions more easily. Someone in the midfield needs to be brave enough to pick out the switch, skipping out that extra pass, so that Roma can play on the front foot. No closer to a striker solution If someone had suggested at the start of the summer that Gregoire Defrel would have been starting a pre-season game as Roma's sole centre-forward just over two weeks before the campaign got underway, they would have sounded ridiculous. However, that was the case, and the Frenchman continued to struggle. In fairness, he was committed, but he lacks the clinical edge to be a Roma player. When Edin Dzeko came on in the second half, it was fitting for him to be given a warm reception by his fans, with plenty of cheers and chants in his honour. Who knows if it was Dzeko's last outing for Roma, as a move to Inter gets closer, but the directors really need to consider how they can replace the Bosnian - or if they can at all - if he does depart. Unless Roma can somehow pull off a coup and sign someone of Mauro Icardi's stature, the names that have been linked are unappealing, and sooner or later the club need to think if getting rid of Dzeko would be a wise idea after all. How Fonseca is using Pellegrini After returning late for pre-season due to international duty, Lorenzo Pellegrini finally got his opportunity to play a full 90 minutes, and it was a performance of highs and lows. For the most part, the Roman was successful, playing positive passes and showing high energy. However, there was a 20-minute spell at the end of the first half when he veered away from his usual standards. Later on, he was also to blame for the second goal, as he wasn't strong enough when turning away from his box - leading to him being dispossessed, and Roma consequently giving away a penalty due to Gianluca Mancini's hand-ball. Pellegrini has been utilised as part of the deeper central midfield pairing by Fonseca, where it appears he will continue to play. Some of his better performances last season came as a trequartista, in the number 10 role, but that position already has Zaniolo, Javier Pastore and maybe even Mirko Antonucci competing for it. Pellegrini can adapt well to the deeper role, as it should allow him to get on the ball more and dictate play, but he needs to stay sharp for 90 minutes. The first signs that Roma will miss De Rossi Extending things further, it wasn't just Pellegrini who blew hot and cold in the midfield. Amadou Diawara was sloppier than in previous displays, for example - while Steven Nzonzi didn't travel with the squad. There was no drive in the middle of the park to push Roma on, and this moment was going to come soon enough: It was clear they missed someone like Daniele De Rossi. Of course, they don't make players like De Rossi any more, but how Roma could have done with him against Bilbao. The midfield is such a critical area, which needs someone to hold it together and to drive what happens in front. Bryan Cristante came closest to replicating that on Wednesday, being more confident on the ball, but he has some way to go to reach the levels that De Rossi consistently did for most of his career - even last season. Roma have other priorities, but perhaps a reinforcement is needed for that position too. Now, if only there had been someone fully committed to the club who could have performed that role to a high standard for this team... Player Ratings: Mirante 5; Florenzi 7; Mancini 5; Jesus 7; Spinazzola 6; Diawara 6; Pellegrini 7; Under 6; Antonucci 5; Perotti 5; Defrel 6 Subs: Lopez 6; Santon 6; Fazio 7; Kolarov 7; Cristante 8; Zaniolo 5; Kluivert 6; Dzeko 6 Man of the Match: Cristante Roma had to come from a goal behind to beat Serie C side Ternana in the second of two friendlies played on Saturday.
It was the first time Roma have found themselves in a losing position under Paulo Fonseca so far, but second half goals from Cengiz Under (2) and Gregoire Defrel put that right, securing a 3-1 win. Apart from goalkeeper Pau Lopez, who took the place of Daniel Fuzato, Fonseca started with the same lineup that had finished the morning's win over Rieti, making wholesale changes around 70 minutes in, mirroring what he had done in the first match of the day. It gave viewers a chance to assess the performances of the players who had only made brief cameos in the morning games, as Fonseca continues to instill his style into the squad. Pastore links up well with Under Javier Pastore has returned for this pre-season like a new man. Whereas last season he put in minimal effort, his attitude has been spot on so far, as he looks to correct the negative portrayal he had partially made for himself. Playing in the number 10 role, Pastore was integral to the fluidity of Roma's attacks. He particularly linked up well with Cengiz Under on his right, with the duo flicking the ball to each other often. Towards the end of the first half, they each created a chance for one another within the space of a minute, with Pastore shooting wide and Cengiz being thwarted by the keeper. And it was Pastore who set up Under for Roma's first goal, picking him out with a deft chip to get past the tight defence, before the winger took two bites of the cherry to finish from a wide angle. On a sidenote, Under's two finishes showed again how clinical and sharp he is looking; he could easily be in line for a 15-goal season. Perotti goes it alone In contrast, Diego Perotti found himself rather isolated, not linking up as well with his compatriot Pastore. Even when the left winger, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Friday, came inside to get involved, he wasn't picked out as often. In parts he was over-confident on the ball and greedy, when he should have mixed his game up by bringing others into play as well. He started pre-season on the front foot, but his last couple of performances have been a bit sub par, meaning the left wing spot is still up for grabs. Antonucci continues to be central With the way things are going so far, even Mirko Antonucci could stake a claim for that role. The youngster has thrived upon his return to the club following time out on loan last year, and if he can replicate these kind of performances against stronger opposition, he may well force himself into Fonseca's plans. When he came on in the second half, it was telling that he was deployed in the attacking midfield role that had been occupied by Pastore, whereas Nicolo Zaniolo, who also prefers that position, had to cover on the right wing. Either man could have done a job in either position, so can we read anything into the fact that it was Antonucci who was favoured in the more important role? He is of course further down the line physically compared to Zaniolo, given that he has been there since the start of pre-season while last season's breakout star arrived late, but if it was a tactical decision, maybe it shows how highly he is regarded by Fonseca. Cristante key to pressing Bryan Cristante is taking on more and more of a defensive role. While his passing has come into question so far, he has been doing the dirty work - and his work rate has been a major positive. Against Ternana, it was midfield partner Amadou Diawara who continued to be the playmaker from deep, whereas Cristante was often the first man to press the ball when Roma lost possession. He worked hard to close down opponents, showing the kind of work rate that inspires teammates to do the same. Cristante is far from the full package, but he is showing how willing he is to take on a slightly different role so that he can still make an impression. Placing the blame for the Ternana goal Roma had to respond to going behind for the first time this summer, after Ternana took the lead through captain Marino Defendi. The goal came from a free kick, which was conceded by Juan Jesus. The Brazilian defender tried to make a tackle when the ball wasn't clearly there for the taking - with plenty of cover behind him too - which gave the referee an easy decision to make. After the initial shot from the resulting free kick hit the bar, Patrik Schick showed a lack of intensity and desire to stop the follow-up effort from Defendi, turning his body rather than making an effort to block it. Player Ratings: Lopez 6; Florenzi 7; Fazio 7; Jesus 5; Kolarov 8; Diawara 7; Cristante 7; Under 8; Pastore 9; Perotti 5; Schick 6 Subs: Mirante 6; Karsdorp 6; Mancini 6; Spinazzola 7; Nzonzi 6; Santon 6; Zaniolo 7; Antonucci 7; Kluivert 6; Defrel 6 Man of the Match: Pastore |
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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