GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Paulo Fonseca fell to his first defeat as Roma coach on Wednesday night as Atalanta won 2-0 at Stadio Olimpico.
On a disappointing evening, goals from Duvan Zapata and Marten De Roon sank Fonseca's side, condemning them to their first loss of the season. A sluggish Roma never really found their rhythm, with Atalanta playing like the home side despite the venue - forcing Fonseca into changes, which did not make the desired effect. Solid start for Smalling Among the few players who could hold their heads high was debutant Chris Smalling. The on-loan Manchester United man was handed his first appearance after a minor injury, taking suspended Gianluca Mancini's place in the defence. While he wasn't able to mark his debut with a clean sheet, he looked the most likely to prevent the opponents scoring. The Englishman was strong and composed in the tackle, putting in a well-timed last-ditch challenge on Josip Ilicic near the end of the first half, preventing the attacker from having a one-on-one with Pau Lopez, and further showing his strength by taking the ball off Duvan Zapata in the second half. For a signing that did not convince all fans at first sight, Smalling did enough to make a positive first playing impression in front of his new home crowd. Florenzi's flaws not related to position The second goal for Atalanta highlighted a worrying lack of organisation at the back from a set piece. Alessandro Florenzi's positioning was all wrong, with his body shape not facing his marker. Hence, he was not able to prevent De Roon from sneaking in at the backpost for an easy finish. The reaction to this error has been hyperbolic from both those who attack Florenzi and those who defend him. It is worth remembering that he does have value, and is one of Fonseca's only options at right-back currently. His supporters argue that he has been played out of position as a full-back for the majority of his career. But there are two flaws in this argument. A player's position on a field is not the one they adopt for a set piece. Anyone should be able to do their job when assigned a task in their own box for a free kick or corner - whether they are a striker, midfielder or defender. Secondly, Florenzi is as much a right-back now as he is any other role. He has been played in that position for too long, that it has worked to his detriment. He has, in some respects, forgotten how to play in what may be called his 'natural' position as a winger. Perhaps that was one of the reasons Fonseca quickly moved him back early on in the game. While his passion and commitment are an obvious benefit, the captain still has a lot to learn - and they are mainly lessons he should know better by now. Where were you, Amadou? One of Roma's main downfalls was their inability to maintain possession for sustained periods of time. The Giallorossi's passing play has generally been fluid under Fonseca, but was much more frustrating against Atalanta. Central midfield duo Bryan Cristante and Jordan Veretout, who have both played well recently, struggled to provide the glue to the buildup play. Consequently, players like Aleksandar Kolarov reverted to long balls from the back, which clearly did not suit Roma's game. Someone who could have helped Roma change that would have been Amadou Diawara. The former Napoli man is arguably the most suited midfielder Roma have with regards to a possession game. He can bring calm to the centre of the pitch, and at €20m is a valuable investment from whom more gametime should be expected. Fonseca should have seen that something needed to change in the middle, and that Diawara was the ideal player to affect things. Tactical tweaks need time For the first time this season, Fonseca ditched his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation around a quarter of an hour into the game, adapting to a 3-4-2-1. The switch did not work. If anything, pressure was invited onto Roma, who also suffered in attack. While it is a positive that Roma have a backup plan, these things need to be tried and tested beforehand. Reports did suggest that Roma had used a back three in training, but if that had been effective, it was not translated onto the pitch. There were numerous friendlies where Fonseca had the chance to work these things out in a game-based scenario. Fonseca has worked quickly to instill a philosophy into his new players, and for the most part, their game has improved as a result. Straying from that, then, was maybe not the wisest solution. However, it remains important for Roma to keep a Plan B in their system - these ideas cannot be written off straight away. Lack of width concerning When playing against a back three, often it is prudent to exploit the spaces in behind the wing-backs and attack from wide zones. Roma's setup did not allow them to do that. Even when they started with a 4-2-3-1, the external players were Alessandro Florenzi and Nicolo Zaniolo, who unusually were not inverted. Even so, neither caused much of a threat out wide. When Roma switched to a back three themselves, it left Florenzi and Leonardo Spinazzola as the advanced full-backs tasked with providing the width. Neither were able to do so - with statistics showing the latter's average position to be narrower than central midfielder Jordan Veretout. Admittedly, some of that data may be skewed given that Spinazzola started at right-back, but even after switching to the left, his tendency was to play very narrow. Later on, Roma finished the match with Edin Dzeko and Nikola Kalinic as strikers, with Pellegrini and Henrikh Mkhitaryan tucked right in as narrow attacking midfielders behind them. As Justin Kluivert - another player who could have been called upon to make a difference - watched on from the bench, Roma failed to make the most basic advantage out of a system which led to them being out-thought and outworked. Player Ratings: Lopez 6; Fazio 5; Smalling 7; Kolarov 5; Florenzi 5; Cristante 5; Veretout 5; Spinazzola 6; Pellegrini 6; Zaniolo 5; Dzeko 6 Subs: Jesus 4; Mkhitaryan 4; Kalinic 4 Coach: Fonseca 3 Man of the Match: Smalling
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A last-gasp winner from Edin Dzeko gave Roma their third consecutive win on Sunday, as Bologna were beaten by the Giallorossi.
For Paulo Fonseca's first game away from the Stadio Olimpico, Roma reverted to the lineup that had beaten Sassuolo the week before, having rotated for the Europa League win over Istanbul Basaksehir. And while it wasn't the most exhilarating performance, they got the job done for the third time in eight days. Aleksandar Kolarov gave Roma the lead with a brilliant free kick, before being adjudged to have made a foul in the box, leading to Bologna's equaliser from the penalty spot. Pau Lopez made his best save yet for Roma to deny Roberto Soriano, before Gianluca Mancini was sent off for a second yellow card. Even though it looked like the game was heading for a draw, some quick thinking from Jordan Veretout took Roma up the pitch in the dying seconds of the game, before Lorenzo Pellegrini picked out Dzeko with a perfect cross, leaving the striker with a simple header to make it 2-1. It means the unbeaten start to the season continues, with Roma rising into the top four for the first time since May 2018. Roma also become the first team since Juventus in February to beat Bologna at their own stadium.
Kolarov crossing the outlet Roma made full use of their width thanks to both full-backs pushing on. Between Kolarov and Alessandro Florenzi, it is clear that the former has the far superior crossing ability, and Roma took advantage of that. Kolarov played in more inviting deliveries in the first half alone than many full-backs manage in an entire game. And his free kick goal showed yet again just how good he is at striking a ball.
Sometimes the Serbian doesn't get the credit he deserves, but he has started the season in scintillating form. However, the one disadvantage of the full-backs being pushed up so high - Kolarov's average position was practically in line with the wingers - was that Bologna exploited the areas they had vacated when countering. For a mid-table side, a wing duo of Ricardo Orsolini and Nicola Sansone can be really dangerous, and the pair caused problems for Roma throughout the game. It is something for Fonseca to reflect upon against the bigger teams. Disjointed attack down to fatigue In contrast, Roma's front four struggled to find any kind of connectivity for large parts of the game. Striker Dzeko and attacking midfielder Pellegrini cut frustrated figures, while Justin Kluivert was peripheral and Henrikh Mkhitaryan faded after a decent start. Fortunately for Roma, there does not appear to be any identifiable long-term problem that is being masked by good results. Instead, the quartet's struggles can be attributed to the fact that they have all played a lot of football already this season. With another midweek game coming up against Atalanta, Fonseca will have to get the balance right in his rotation policy again, to make sure he has a fresh attack, that still makes the most of his in-form players. Pellegrini under pressure If there was one question to be raised of Pellegrini, it would relate to how he is coping with his new-found game-changer role. The Roman has been a level above the competition in terms of his quality in the first few games, but Sunday was one of those days where nothing really came off for him in normal time. Is that because he is adapting to the increased pressure on him to match his impressive standards regularly? Does he have the mentality to thrive in a leadership role, with his team relying on him more than ever? In added time, he suggested the answer was yes. After Veretout's surge forward, Pellegrini had the ball at his feet, knowing that it was likely to be Roma's last chance to steal a winner. When it mattered most, he plucked out a perfect cross for Dzeko, giving the Bologna defence no chance. It may have been a struggle for most of the 90 minutes, but Pellegrini has shown that when the going gets tough, he can still make a difference. Wake up call for Mancini Given that he was essentially signed as the replacement for Kostas Manolas, Gianluca Mancini hasn't quite lived up to the standards of his predecessor yet. After a mixed start to the campaign, with some good and some bad displays, the former Atalanta man received Roma's first red card of the season, due to two bookable offences. The first challenge was definitely a yellow, and while the second appeared a little harsh, it should still serve as a wake up call for the defender. He is still finding his place in the Roma backline, and once he settles in among his new teammates, he should be fine. However, he may have a thing or two to learn about concentration and reading the game from centre-back partner Federico Fazio - who turned in another positive display. Veretout finding his place One new addition who seems to need no time at all to fit in is Veretout, the architect of the winning goal. The former Aston Villa and Fiorentina player started a second consecutive Serie A game in midfield, and showed some positive signs. Early on, his range of passing was impressive - just like midfield partner Bryan Cristante, who has been transformed recently. Veretout began to give the ball away a bit in the middle of the match, and picked up a yellow card in the 64th minute. But after that booking, he knuckled down and got back to what he had been doing in the first half an hour or so. His determination in the run leading to the goal was commendable, and fans will surely relate to the passion he showed in his celebration after Dzeko nodded the ball in. Roma might just have found the man to transform their midfield.
Player Ratings: Lopez 7; Florenzi 4; Mancini 5; Fazio 7; Kolarov 7; Cristante 7; Veretout 7; Kluivert 5; Pellegrini 5; Mkhitaryan 6; Dzeko 6 Subs: Spinazzola 5; Zaniolo 5; Jesus N/A Coach: Fonseca 6 Man of the Match: Cristante Roma picked up a point from a difficult Derby Della Capitale clash with Lazio on Sunday, meaning they have drawn their first two games of the season. After drawing with Genoa on the opening day, the level of test stepped up a notch for Paulo Fonseca, who took charge of his first Rome Derby, and things started positively when Aleksandar Kolarov opened the scoring from the penalty spot - his second goal against his former club for Roma. However, after the break, Luis Alberto levelled things up for the designated home side, who had more than twice the number of shots Roma did. Lazio thought they'd won it late on through Manuel Lazzari, but the goal was correctly disallowed due to an offside in the build up - not to mention the ball being out of play when it was crossed to the former SPAL man. The woodwork was the star of the show, keeping Lazio out four times, while Nicolo Zaniolo hit the post twice for Roma - who have still not been behind in either of their games so far this season. Here is what we learnt from a somewhat uncharacteristically open and free-flowing Derby. Decision making in attack needs to improve While Lazio were the side with more shots on goal, Roma had their fair share of the ball in dangerous areas too. And the gap between the two sides' number of efforts would have been smaller had Roma shown better decision-making in the final third. Wingers Justin Kluivert and Cengiz Under often struggled to keep hold of the ball, but when they did, they sometimes chose the wrong options, passing when they should have shot and vice versa. Zaniolo, despite going close twice, was also guilty of this in the second half, when after charging down the right wing, he tried to shoot with the outside of his left foot, when it would have been wiser to square the ball to a teammate. Perhaps the impending arrival of Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Arsenal will help Roma show more maturity in attack. Improvements seen when Dzeko gets on the ball There were moments when things started to flow better - mainly when Edin Dzeko got on the ball. The striker, who recently renewed his contract, was a peripheral figure at times in the first half, but when he started to drop deeper and pick up the ball from goal kicks and clearances, things immediately improved. Dzeko is the glue that binds Roma together, and if he plays well, then so do those around him. This lineup needs to be built in a manner which gets Dzeko involved as often as possible, because he remains Roma's most dangerous player and can be a calming influence with his experience and strength. Pre-season schedule catching up with Roma Just like in the Genoa game, the final quarter of an hour or so saw a lack of inventiveness from the attackers, whose movement greatly diminished. Is this is a sign of fatigue, and if so, can it be attributed to Roma's rather disorganised pre-season? After pulling out of the International Champions Cup due to the Europa League qualifiers - which they soon found out they would not have to be involved in - Roma had few tests in pre-season, mainly playing lower level opposition. This helped the new signings settle in, but physically, did not provide Roma with the workouts they needed to get up to the required standards. Would it have been a different story if Roma had played those ICC games? Who knows, but at least there are now two weeks before the next game for the squad to get back in peak condition. Defence caught ball watching for Lazio goal While the frame of the goal was Roma's saviour on a scarcely believable number of occasions, they were the architects of their own downfall for the shot that did go in. First of all, Kolarov wasn't strong enough and was dispossessed, leading to a Lazio counter attack. Once Ciro Immobile had got in behind everyone apart from Gianluca Mancini and Pau Lopez, there were three other defenders running back and facing him. None of them opened their bodies up to spot Alberto making the late run into the box, leaving the Spaniard with a free attempt on goal. Federico Fazio was the closest to him who should have been facing the danger rather than being sucked in to a scenario that was partially being dealt with by Mancini. Was this goal also down to Fonseca's high line, as someone like Fazio would have been facing forwards and stopping Alberto if the defence had started from deeper? Perhaps that's one lesson for the new coach to learn as he seeks his first win. Lack of natural defensive midfielder shows Many of Lazio's counter attacks could have been snuffed out if there had been a proper defensive midfielder there to read and break up the play. Following the departures of Daniele De Rossi and Steven Nzonzi this summer, Roma have been left with a starting duo of Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini at the base of Fonseca's midfield. Of the two, Cristante is the more likely to develop into a true defensive midfielder, although it is not his natural role, while Pellegrini would fare better if deployed in a more advanced role. Hopes will be hinging on summer signings Amadou Diawara and Jordan Veretout to make the difference once they are ready to start, because as things stand, the midfield is lacking equilibrium, which is causing too many problems. Player Ratings: Lopez 6; Florenzi 6; Mancini 7; Fazio 5; Kolarov 6; Cristante 6; Pellegrini 6; Under 5; Zaniolo 7; Kluivert 4; Dzeko 6 Subs: Pastore 4; Santon 5; Diawara 5 Coach: Fonseca 5 Man of the Match: Zaniolo
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 came from behind to clinch a 1-1 draw with AC Milan on Sunday night, in the side's first game since their 7-1 drubbing at Fiorentina.
Understandably, there were a few whistles and protests from the fans, but across the 90 minutes, Roma put in a good enough performance to earn a point - possibly more - and showed a positive reaction. It wasn't Roma's best performance in recent memory, but it was a solid outing with only a few individual errors. The draw is surely enough to keep Eusebio Di Francesco in his job for a little longer. EDF reverts to 4-3-3 After a few weeks using a 4-2-3-1, with varying degrees of success, Di Francesco went back to his usual 4-3-3 formation, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolo Zaniolo playing either side of Daniele De Rossi in an all-Italian midfield. For the most part, this helped Roma to cover ground effectively and combat Milan's physicality in the middle of the park. If Di Francesco continues with the 4-3-3 once Steven Nzonzi and Bryan Cristante return from suspension remains to be seen, but the switch showed a reaction to adversity and offers the Giallorossi another important option. De Rossi rolls back the years Seriously, how good was De Rossi? At 35 years of age, making his first start for more than three months after an injury, the captain came straight back into the side and was the calming influence that Roma have desperately needed. Without him, Roma become disjointed and frantic, so his presence on the pitch was a welcome relief. He won all of his duels and gave Roma momentum by playing more long balls forward than anyone else on the pitch. In total, De Rossi covered an unbelievable 12.1km over the 90 minutes. He's been sorely missed over the last few months, but last night, De Rossi proved that age is just a number.
Schick's best performance for Roma?
When the team sheet was announced and Patrik Schick and Edin Dzeko were both named in the starting lineup, it led to debate about their roles. Ultimately, Schick was shifted out to the right wing, with Dzeko starting centrally. Some attribute the lack of confidence in Schick's previous displays to his deployment on the right wing, an unfamiliar position before his arrival at Roma. However, against Milan he made the role his own. He hustled throughout, creating chances and tracking back to help out right-back Rick Karsdorp (who impressed again himself). Why he was replaced by Di Francesco is a serious question - Schick was a positive influence throughout and deserved the chance to stay on for the rest of the match. If it wasn't his best performance yet for Roma, it was certainly the best he's ever done out on the wing. Donnarumma's excellence shows Roma are creating chances While De Rossi and Schick impressed for Roma, there was one clear candidate for Milan's man of the match. Gianluigi Donnarumma answered his critics by producing an amazing display in the Rossoneri goal. The 19-year-old pulled off a number of saves that weren't just great, but world class. His double stop on Dzeko and Schick in the first half was a standout moment. On another day, Roma would have had plenty more goals, but Donnarumma gave one of his best performances of the season to keep the Giallorossi at bay. Nonetheless, having 17 shots and creating 1.79 expected goals proves that Roma are still creating chances and finding ways to penetrate defences. Every player needs to celebrate like Zaniolo Zaniolo showed hunger, desire and primal striking instinct to give Roma the equaliser early in the second half. The timing of his movement in the box was perfect, arriving late at the back post so he could fire home. And even though it was an empty net by the time he got there, he wasn't taking any chances - fully pummelling the ball into the net. His ferocious strike from yards out was a release of nervous energy among the team and his consequent celebration shows just how much scoring means to him. He stood under the Curva Sud, pumping his fists in the air. He may not be a Romanista, but you'd be forgiven for thinking so if you didn't know any better. The passion he embodies in every performance and celebration is a textbook example of how all players should show their commitment to Roma. Roma's first home game of the season ended as a 3-3 draw against Atalanta on Monday night. Javier Pastore opened the scoring early on, before the away side put themselves 3-1 in front. Roma had to claw their way back into the game, scoring two second half goals to secure the draw. It means Roma are on four points from two games. Here is a detailed look at all six goals. Goal one: Pastore (1-0) Pastore scored his first goal for the club in quite some style. The move began on the right flank, as Alessandro Florenzi threaded it through to Cengiz Under. The Turkish winger cut back onto his favoured left foot to deliver a cross, easily beating the defender, whose momentum took him beyond Under. The cross was lightly weighted, meaning it was falling just in front of Pastore, who had run closer to the near post. With the ball dropping as it approached Pastore, the summer signing expertly backheeled it into the bottom corner. It showed excellent spatial awareness from Pastore and great technique. Goal two: Castagne (1-1) Atalanta found an equaliser just under 20 minutes in. Duvan Zapata dribbled down the right wing, unleashing a shot which smashed back off the post. Timothy Castagne arrived just in time to tap the ball into the net. The most striking thing about this goal from a Roma perspective was the positioning of Federico Fazio. 'Il Comandante' was caught too high up the pitch, and didn't have the sufficient pace to get back. Consequently, he couldn't keep up with Castagne as he jogged into the box. Yes, there was a hint of misfortune with the way the ball rebounded straight into Castagne's path, but Fazio could've done more to prevent him receiving the ball. Goal three: Rigoni (1-2) If the first Atalanta goal was bad, the second was even worse. Kostas Manolas stumbled over the ball with his back to goal in a right-back position, allowing Zapata to run at goal. Manolas was able to keep within touching distance of him as he sprinted back, but a clever chop from Zapata opened up new space and took Manolas out of the game. Fazio then failed to intercept Zapata's ball across, leading to a simple one-on-one finish for Emiliano Rigoni. Goal four: Rigoni (1-3) Roma's centre back partnership of Manolas and Fazio were put under the spotlight again for Atalanta's third goal. Fazio came out of position to try and dispossess Rigoni - which he wouldn't have had to do if one of the midfielders had stopped the simple ball into Rigoni's path. Daniele De Rossi in particular was too high up the pitch as he went to close down a defender, a job which could have - and should have - been done by Pastore. Rigoni quickly flicked the ball round Fazio as the Argentinian rushed on, carrying on his run so that Mario Pasalic could play him in. Manolas couldn't block the pass, leaving Rigoni one-one-one again. The midfielder pulled off a lethal finish, despite Florenzi's best efforts to recover ground, beating Robin Olsen at his near post to make it 3-1 at half time. Goal five: Florenzi (2-3) After being involved in the build up for Roma's first goal, Florenzi got on the scoresheet himself on the hour mark. The right-back clipped the ball forward to Edin Dzeko, who chested the ball down and held it up as Florenzi followed his pass. As Dzeko turned, Florenzi took the ball off him and dribbled towards goal. Space opened up for him as Atalanta's defence backed off, with the centre-back distracted by Pastore's movement towards the right. Florenzi then sidefooted the ball down the middle of the goal and under the keeper's body to set up a comeback. Goal six: Manolas (3-3) Now an expert in sealing late comebacks, Manolas scored the equaliser in the 82nd minute. Pastore's free kick was played at just the right height to catch out the Atalanta defence, sailing over Zapata's head as the striker attempted to clear it, with Manolas running to the far post. The timing of Manolas' run allowed him to meet the ball for a simple tap in. He managed to set his feet right so that he could cushion the ball into the goal with the inside of his foot, securing redemption for Roma. Final thoughts The goals conceded by Roma highlight clear areas for improvement in the defensive phase. The Giallorossi cannot afford to make such defensive mistakes against clinical opponents like Atalanta, and that requires hard work all over the pitch. However, at the other end, Pastore has importantly got off the mark in a Roma shirt, and two of the club's longest serving players ensured Roma earned a point. It's always satisfying when the team's most passionate players score, and they will be hoping to have opportunities to add to their tallies over the next few months. Highlights courtesy of Serie A YouTube
Roma bowed out of the Champions League at the semi final stage last night, bringing an end to a remarkable campaign in Europe.
Eusebio Di Francesco's side needed to win by three clear goals to reach the final, and put in a great performance. Sadly, they fell just short, winning 4-2 on the night. Three second half goals - after a James Milner own goal in the first half - weren't quite enough to see Roma through, although they were greeted with rapturous applause upon the final whistle. Roma's mentality shines through Conceding the first goal early on could have been a hammer blow for Roma, who were already up against it. Sadio Mane's opener came against the run of play, and left Roma with four goals to get. However, the Giallorossi didn't shy away from the challenge, and continued to believe in themselves for most of the game. It was a resilient performance, bouncing back to derail the Premier League side and hand them their first defeat of the Champions League campaign. Controversial refereeing decisions It was a game of 'what ifs' for Roma, and several of those revolved around pivotal refereeing decisions. Roma should have had two more penalties in the match, with Edin Dzeko incorrectly being ruled offside before being brought down by Loris Karius, and Trent Alexander-Arnold stopping the ball with his hand. Neither were awarded, adding a flavour of frustration to fans' reflections on the match. Return to back four worked well Di Francesco returned to a 4-3-3 for this leg, after the 3-4-3 used at Anfield was exploited ruthlessly by Liverpool. The change in system was beneficial, as Liverpool created fewer chances than in the first leg, and Roma looked dangerous going forward. EDF was right to go 3-4-3 against Barcelona, but the lesson to be learnt is adaptability to opponents. 4-3-3 was a much better shape to use against Liverpool. A campaign full of pride Roma may have missed out on the final, but still managed to beat their best ever record in the Champions League era. Fans have been delighted at the club's performances across the continent this season, and will have high expectations of what this team can achieve in the future. Di Francesco deserves great credit for instilling a positive mentality on the players, where previous Roma sides would have crumbled. Remember, he had never coached in the Champions League before this season. And his side made it to the last four. What a journey this has been. Roma gave themselves another mountain to climb in the Champions League last night, falling 5-2 to Liverpool in the semi final first leg.
The hosts went 5-0 up before Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti (penalty) clinched two away goals late on, to leave optimistic Roma fans wondering if there could be a way back into the tie. However, despite the late goals, it was a poor performance from Roma, who were mostly outplayed. Former teammate Mohamed Salah was instrumental with two goals and two assists, and was visibly apologetic for inflicting such pain on his old club. Set pieces undo Roma Warning signals were sent in the first half for Roma when Dejan Lovren hit the bar with a free header from a corner, with the score at 1-0. Roma showed little to no defensive organisation from corners, with poor marking and no one attacking the space. Lessons were not learned from this Lovren chance, as Liverpool went on to score their final goal from a corner. Defending corners should be basic for any team, but Roma looked in danger whenever they conceded a set piece. Too much space given to Liverpool players Eusebio Di Francesco sent his Roma side out to play with a high defensive line, and it caused all sorts of problems at the back. Rarely did the defensive three/five stay in a flat line, keeping Liverpool players onside and with plenty of space to attack. Further upfield, the pressing was not as intense as it was against Barcelona, meaning Liverpool's midfielders could dictate the play. In contrast, Liverpool closed Roma down often, forcing the side into mistakes and not giving them any time to play with. Roma ineffective at keeping possession Partly as a result of Liverpool's press (and partly out of pure bad play), Roma were poor at keeping the ball. Possession was given away far too frequently for the side to be able to stage many meaningful attacks. Statistically, Roma actually had more possession (just) and better pass completion, but it didn't look like it. The team tried to play football in the wrong areas, often getting basics like the weight of pass wrong, and letting Liverpool in. Roma's players will need to be calmer on the ball in future. Final thoughts There's now a nervous wait until the second leg, as fans wait to see if Roma can pull off another miracle and win by three goals, just like against Barcelona. It won't be easy, but the first goal will be crucial. Whichever way it goes will give that side an impetus. But along with chasing goals, Roma must learn some defensive lessons from where they went wrong last night, unless they want to make their task even harder. 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. To beat Atletico Madrid tonight, Roma must break down one of the most organised defensive systems in Europe.
Atletico under Simeone have become a well-drilled unit thanks to years of stability and rigorous work on defensive tactics. And with Jan Oblak's goal protected, their attacking flair players have freedom to cause danger. Roma will have to take a similar approach tonight and worry about defence before attack. When Roma have faced some of Europe's biggest teams in this competition in recent years, some large scorelines have resulted. First and foremost, Roma need to stop that from occurring again upon their return to Europe's most illustrious competition. Much of the defence's night will be spent keeping Atletico's danger man, Antoine Griezmann, at bay. Griezmann is one of the most exciting attacking players in the world, and Roma will need to mark him tightly and not allow him any space. This may be the job of the holding midfielder or one of the centre backs. If Roma don't get tight enough, then Griezmann will enjoy his evening and have a good chance of getting on the scoresheet, like Mauro Icardi did for Inter against the Lupi before the international break due to poor marking. Roma probably enter this game as slight underdogs, and that may work in their favour. Whilst Eusebio Di Francesco's tactics haven't always brought the best outcomes for Roma so far, his system at Sassuolo was built on a premise that his side were not expected to win the game. This could be the first scenario in his tenure as Roma coach which mirrors that situation. And we are all aware of how much success he had at Sassuolo playing that way. If he can get his new side to truly replicate that playing style tonight, Roma could pull off the unexpected. Tonight's game will likely be won in the middle of the park. Roma's midfield has often been suggested as being one of the best in Europe, and now it's time for them to prove that against a very good team. With Atletico expected to use a 4-4-2, and Roma preferring a 4-3-3, the home side will have an extra body in central midfield. Roma's midfield trio should look to keep the ball with their numerical advantage over a central midfield pairing. This will be harder than it sounds, as off-the-ball, Atletico's wide men will tuck in and limit the space, as the side has done so effectively over the last few seasons. But if Roma play on the counter when the wide midfielders are out of the game, they could utilise the spare man in midfield as they build an attack. A similar 3 v 2 situation will be created further up the field. Roma's inverted wingers will look to get around the central striker, probably Edin Dzeko, with all three in a close area. This could be problematic for Atletico's central defensive duo. Then it will be a case of getting as many shots off as possible, and hoping that Oblak, a fine goalkeeper, is having an off day. Even though Roma don't enter the game as favourites, they have reason to believe they can get something out of the game. At the weekend, Atletico only drew with a Valencia team that has struggled in recent seasons - a Valencia team that Roma are better than. Hopefully, Roma will have utilised the extra rest time after the Sampdoria postponement to prepare well for this game. Playing on the counter may not be the prettiest way to win, but could be a very effective method tonight. And as the home side, Roma will look to seize their opportunities to get a result in the UEFA Champions League. |
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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