GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma secured their first home win in over a month on Sunday by beating AC Milan 2-1. Edin Dzeko broke the deadlock with a header after drifting in at the backpost from a corner, giving the Giallorossi a half-time lead. Theo Hernandez levelled things up for Milan after the break, as his shot deflected off Chris Smalling, before Nicolo Zaniolo restored the advantage moments later with a well-executed curled strike. The victory - Roma's first over Milan since October 2017 - means Paulo Fonseca's men keep pace with the top four, ahead of a week which will see them play Udinese and Napoli. Precise Pau In his 10 games as Roma goalkeeper before yesterday, Pau Lopez had yet to be truly tested. Aside from a strong display against Lazio, in which he made six saves, the summer signing was yet to fully convince the fanbase - not so much because of any errors, but because he hadn't been forced into showing what he could do. While the jury may still be out, he showed against Milan that he is a safe pair of hands. While many of the stops he made were routine for a goalkeeper of his quality, many of the efforts that came his way were struck with enough power to potentially cause problems. But Lopez dealt with everything that was thrown at him. The deflection that led to Milan's goal gave him no chance, but elsewhere, he was alert and reacted to every threat posed by the visitors. The man behind the mask If Roma had a fully fit squad, would Edin Dzeko have been playing? One has to wonder if the striker has had to rush back from his jaw injury to accommodate for the several absences in the squad, but he proved that even at 80% of his usual sharpness, he can be a leader from the front. While an argument could be raised as to whether he should have remained on the pitch after an altercation with Milan defender Mateo Musacchio, there can be no debate about the quality he showed thereafter. He was the focal point in attack that fans have become used to seeing, challenging for headers, muscling off defenders and bringing his teammates into play. The masked assassin got the goal he deserved, and adorning the captain's armband, showed what a good leader he is. Keep calm, Kolarov Another of the more experienced players in the squad, Dzeko's former Manchester City teammate Aleksandar Kolarov, endured a mixed afternoon. Towards the end of the game, he showed his bravery in defence by challenging for loose balls with his head, when opponents had raised their studs high. It served as another reminder of the kind of professionalism and commitment that the Serbian exemplifies. However, in attack, there was the sense that everything he was doing was a little rushed. Not for the first time recently, he failed to look up before firing in crosses that were too powerful for any of his teammates to connect to. For a player of his experience, it was uncharacteristic for Kolarov not to compose himself and wait for the attackers to move before making his deliveries. Given the quality he possesses from wide areas, it was a shame that he couldn't pick the right moments to unleash his ability. Veretout growing in authority One player who has really had to step up recently amid Roma's injury crisis is Jordan Veretout. The only fit natural central midfielder in the squad, the Frenchman has had to take on a great responsibility. And once again, versus a club he could have signed for instead of Roma in the summer, he showed that he is thriving in the role. The former Aston Villa man was a driving force, helping Roma retain possession with his accurate passing and determination. With defender Gianluca Mancini deployed alongside him, he was given more of a licence to push on than he may have expected in the absence of Bryan Cristante and Amadou Diawara. Veretout also assumed the responsibility of taking set pieces, and it was from one of his corners that Roma took the lead. Mancini and Chris Smalling both missed great chances from two more of Veretout's corners, blazing free headers wide after being picked out. Deliveries from corners have been an area of struggle for the club in recent seasons, but it finally looks like they have someone who can create chances from such fundamental passages of play. Solid spine Any team needs a strong structure down the middle of the park, and Roma haven't always been able to meet that requirement. Particularly with the amount of absences from midfield, it could have been expected that things could look disjointed. However, Roma took up one of their most solid spines of the whole season. Starting at the back, Federico Fazio and Smalling formed a formidable partnership in defence. Winning an impressive nine aerial duels between them, both read the play well and put their bodies on the line for the team. Further upfield, the positive showings from Veretout, Mancini and Dzeko have already been documented, while attacking midfielder Javier Pastore displayed a good work rate and caught the eye with a couple of nutmegs in the first half. With all six of the central players proving their strength, Roma could impose their dominance on the game. Player Ratings: Lopez 7; Spinazzola 6; Smalling 7; Fazio 8; Kolarov 6; Mancini 6; Veretout 8; Zaniolo 8; Pastore 7; Perotti 6; Dzeko 8 Subs: Antonucci 4; Cetin N/A; Santon N/A Coach: Fonseca 6 Man of the Match: Fazio
0 Comments
Riccardo Calafiori has been called up to the senior Roma squad for the first time, just a year after a serious injury threatened his career.
The 17-year-old defender suffered a devastating knee injury in the UEFA Youth League last October, but after making a scoring return to action for the Under-19s recently, Calafiori has now been brought into the first team fold by Paulo Fonseca, as several members of the squad look to overcome injury issues of their own. With the squad further depleted by the absences of Bryan Cristante (ruled out until 2020), Nikola Kalinic (out for around two months) and Davide Santon (battling flu), Fonseca has had to turn to the youth sector to complete a 19-man squad for Thursday's Europa League tie with Borussia Monchengladbach, with promising midfielder Alessio Riccardi also included. There is a chance that the 18-year-old, who made his senior debut in a Coppa Italia game in January, could play some part in the match, given that the midfield options are very limited. Jordan Veretout is the only fit natural central midfielder, while Javier Pastore played there for most of the game against Sampdoria at the weekend - although his ability to play three games in a week is questionable. Nevertheless, it is Pastore who is expected to start alongside Veretout on Thursday. Roma have one win and one draw from their Europa League campaign so far, most recently being frustrated in Austria by Wolfsberger. Monchengladbach, meanwhile, have just one point after drawing with Istanbul Basaksehir - although they currently lead the way in the Bundesliga, with one point more than Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund or RB Leipzig. The game gets underway at 5:55pm UK time, and will be available to watch via the BT Sport red button service. Bryan Cristante is in line for a change of position when Roma host Cagliari in their return to Serie A action on Sunday.
After drawing with Austrian side Wolfsberger in the Europa League on Thursday, the focus returns to domestic action, with Paulo Fonseca being forced to name his thinnest squad of the season so far. With Davide Zappacosta adding to the long list of long-term absentees and Alessandro Florenzi out with the flu, Fonseca has been able to call up just 19 players for the Stadio Olimpico showdown. And not even all of those are at full fitness, with Javier Pastore unlikely to start after doing so in midweek. Consequently, Cristante or Jordan Veretout will be deployed as a trequartista, with the former more likely having done so occasionally at Atalanta. Admittedly, he does not have all the technical qualities required to excel in the role regularly in this system, but will be hoping to make an impact from that position with his usual determination and energy. It was a similar formula that helped Radja Nainggolan succeed in the position during his time with Roma. The Belgian midfielder will be hoping to inspire on his return to his former stomping ground, having re-signed with Cagliari after one season at Inter Milan. Nainggolan commented in the run-up to the game that he would have liked to finish his career at Roma - who will be wary not to allow him to show them what they are missing. Cagliari have won both of their away games this season, including against title challengers Napoli most recently. The Sardinian outfit have renewed optimism and will be looking to pose a threat to a Roma side that have already faltered at home against Genoa and Atalanta. Roma have not conceded a goal against Cagliari at the Olimpico since 2013 though, so will be hoping to use the opportunity tomorrow to get back to winning ways. The game kicks off at 2pm UK time and will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 2. Roma earned their first away clean sheet by edging Lecce 1-0 on Sunday afternoon, to keep the pressure on the early pace-setters. After losing to Atalanta in midweek, Roma bounced back, with Edin Dzeko heading home his 92nd goal for the club. His former Manchester City teammate Aleksandar Kolarov missed a golden chance to double the advantage, when his penalty was saved. It wasn't as wide a margin as fans would have hoped for, but the important thing was to return to winning ways and continue Paulo Fonseca's unbeaten run on the road. Dzeko developing in the air For a player with a 6'4" frame, Edin Dzeko has never been as suited to an aerial game as many might expect. The striker has flourished with his feet at Roma, using his strength and positioning to reach the numbers he has achieved. While his height is an obvious threat, he hasn't always been able to use it to his advantage. Even at the age of 33, though, Dzeko is showing that a player can still improve. Recently, he has been brilliant in the air, with his last two goals being scored with his head - a last-gasp winner over Bologna, and another game-decider on Sunday. But it was not just in the box that Dzeko demonstrated his importance to the team. Particularly in the second half, he won a number of headers in the middle of the park from long balls forward, creating chances aplenty for the likes of Justin Kluivert and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to run on to. While he has not always been famed for this part of his game, Dzeko has shown a willingness to develop, and as a result, he dominated.
Wasteful wingers That said, Kluivert and Mkhitaryan did not necessarily make the most of the chances that came their way. They were among the prime culprits as Roma demonstrated more poor decision-making in the final third - perhaps epitomised when Nicolo Zaniolo failed to play an easy pass across to Kluivert towards the end of the game, which would almost definitely have led to a second goal. Had Roma been as effective in the final third as they were in the middle of the park, the scoreline could have been three or four. However, Kluivert fell back to his old tricks of being indecisive and not backing himself with his pace - with which he created danger on the odd occasion that he trusted himself - whereas Mkhitaryan's first touch was loose. Both players are capable of more and have shown their qualities on several occasions in the past, but were equally frustrating against Lecce. Diawara dictates the play One of the players who succeeded in having an impact on the game behind the attackers was Amadou Diawara. Making his first Serie A start for Roma (and only his third appearance overall), the summer signing from Napoli was always an option for his teammates in the centre of midfield. Diawara offers a very different style to the man he replaced in the starting lineup, Bryan Cristante (who seemed to commit more fouls when he came on than he managed touches of the ball in a five-minute cameo). Whereas Cristante has earned his starting berths this season through graft and energy, also playing some decent long balls, Diawara performs better in the short game. He rarely misplaced a pass as he gave fluidity to Roma's transition from defence to attack. He surely warrants more appearances in bigger games. Language no barrier for leader Smalling Another summer signing making his second start of the season was Chris Smalling, who kept his place in the side after a man of the match debut against Atalanta. This time around, he played just as well, and was able to gain the three points and clean sheet that his performance deserved. His tackling was well-timed as ever, save for the foul that earned him his first yellow card in Serie A. But aside from his playing ability, the thing that impressed most was the way he held the backline together. With the relatively inexperienced Gianluca Mancini starting alongside him rather than Federico Fazio, Smalling assumed the senior role, and despite his grasp of the Italian language only being basic so far, he appeared to have no problems instructing his teammates where to go, or remonstrating with the referee if he disagreed with a decision. Just as he wants, the Englishman has the potential to grow into a leader during his time with the club. Busy schedule catches up with Kolarov Overall, it was an afternoon of mixed performances, despite the positive result. One of the players towards the lower end of the spectrum was Kolarov - who in general has been outstanding this season. However, against Lecce, the struggles of a 33-year-old being ever-present - in a system which requires him to cover a lot of ground - were evident.
Consecutive weeks of Serie A following midweek action led to signs of fatigue from the usually dynamic full-back, whose crosses did not reach their usual level of accuracy. And while it would be unfair to over-analyse his penalty miss - he is generally excellent from 12 yards - there was something about his run up which did not look right, perhaps signalling tired legs. That said, he remains one of Roma's strongest players, and will undoubtedly be relied on again from the spot. Jordan Veretout, who often assumed the responsibility for Fiorentina last season, was the only real alternative taker on the pitch, and one miss should not move Kolarov down the hierarchy. Fortunately, Leonardo Spinazzola has returned to fitness, meaning the Serbian should be able to get the rest and recuperation he needs and deserves after a blistering start to the season. Player Ratings: Lopez 6; Florenzi 6; Mancini 5; Smalling 7; Kolarov 5; Diawara 7; Veretout 6; Kluivert 5; Pellegrini 7; Mkhitaryan 6; Dzeko 7 Subs: Zaniolo 6; Spinazzola 5; Cristante N/A Coach: Fonseca 6 Man of the Match: Diawara 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
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 venture away from Stadio Olimpico for the first time this season when they travel to face Bologna on Sunday afternoon.
After an unbeaten first four games on home turf (with the draw against Lazio technically an away game), Roma are hoping to continue their promising start - but will be coming up against another side with big ambitions. Bologna are also undefeated so far this season, having seen their fortunes improve massively since the appointment of Sinisa Mihajlovic midway through last season. And ever since the news that the former Roma player is battling with leukaemia, the troops have been rallied, with Bologna fighting for their coach - most recently coming from two goals down to beat Brescia 4-3. In reality, though, they are yet to face anyone of Roma's level, and the Giallorossi will be eager to assert their dominance in their quest to prove their top four credentials. Having not lost on the road in half a year, Roma have an impressive record to protect. Fatigue may be the other main concern, given the quick turnaround after Thursday's Europa League win over Istanbul Basaksehir. Fonseca opted to rotate his lineup for that clash, with sufficiently rested Lorenzo Pellegrini and Alessandro Florenzi likely to return to the starting eleven. Guaranteed to take to the pitch from minute one, barring a late injury, are Bryan Cristante and Jordan Veretout, with Fonseca confirming the midfield pair would start the game. That means Amadou Diawara, who made his first start on Thursday, will drop out of the lineup against his former side. Chris Smalling remains out of the squad due to injury, but Fonseca hopes to have him available next week, while Davide Zappacosta and Cengiz Under also stay on the sidelines. The Stadio Renato Dell'Ara was one of the scenes of Roma's more miserable moments from last season, when Bologna beat Eusebio Di Francesco's side 2-0, but much has changed since then. Fonseca has his new side playing much better football, and will be hoping to make it five games unbeaten as Roma coach. Kicking off at 2pm UK time, the match will be broadcast live on Premier Sports.
As Roma's Europa League campaign gets underway, there is a general sense of optimism that the club will take the competition seriously and be among the contenders for the trophy.
Paulo Fonseca has already confirmed that Roma have "big ambitions" for the competition, with the coach having previously reached the quarter-finals with Braga in 2015-16, before being knocked out by his next club, Shakhtar Donetsk. Over the summer, Roma assembled an experienced squad, with the lineup now featuring several players who have good history in European competition. Here is a brief look at the furthest stage each player has reached in both the Champions League and Europa League. Davide Zappacosta Champions League best: Round of 16 (Chelsea, 2017-18) Europa League best: Winner (Chelsea, 2018-19) The first of five former Europa League winners in Roma's squad, Zappacosta got his hands on the trophy at the first time of asking last season. The previous year, he had seen his new Chelsea side qualify behind Roma in their Champions League group before being eliminate in the Round of 16. Having never competed in Europe before leaving Italy to join Chelsea, he now has the opportunity to make his mark with a club from his homeland.
Bryan Cristante Champions League best: Quarter-final (Milan, 2011-12) Europa League best: Round of 32 (Atalanta, 2017-18) The Champions League gave Cristante his professional debut as a 16-year-old, with the midfielder featuring for Milan in a group match. The Rossoneri reached the quarter-finals that year, but he played no further part. He was more involved when Atalanta reached the Europa League Round of 32 in his final season in Bergamo, scoring three goals as he played in all of their eight games in the competition. Only Josip Ilicic scored more for them in Europe that year. Juan Jesus Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Round of 16 (Inter, 2012-13; Roma, 2014-15 and 2016-17) One of several players to follow on this list whose best European run came with Roma, Jesus was a starter in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final loss to Liverpool. It was the Europa League that gave him his first taste of European football, though, when he reached the Round of 16 in his first full season with Inter - a feat he has repeated twice with Roma since. Chris Smalling Champions League best: Runner up (Manchester United, 2010-11) Europa League best: Winner (Manchester United, 2016-17) An unused sub in both games when his Fulham side faced Roma in the 2009-10 group stage on their route to the Europa League final, Smalling went one better by winning the competition with Manchester United in 2017, playing all 90 minutes of the final. At the start of his United career, he had even come close to winning the Champions League, watching from the bench as his side lost to Barcelona at the end of his first season there. He had played nine games on their journey to the final.
Lorenzo Pellegrini Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Group stage (Sassuolo, 2016-17) Pellegrini was a member of the squad that got Roma further than ever before in the Champions League era, starting the second leg of the semi-final against Liverpool in which his side came within a whisker of another extraordinary comeback. Preparing him for that adventure, and his time at Roma as a whole, had been a two-year stint at Sassuolo, where he helped Eusebio Di Francesco's side qualify for Europe for the first time, before they were knocked out in the group stage. Diego Perotti Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Winner (Sevilla, 2013-14) Brought to Europe by future Roma sporting director Monchi in 2007, Perotti worked his way through the ranks at Sevilla, with his time with the La Liga club culminating in victory in the Europa League in his last year with the club - although at the time, he was out on loan at Boca Juniors. It was the first of three consecutive triumphs in the competition for Sevilla, but Perotti wasn't able to play in Europe again until joining Roma in 2015. He scored in the first leg Champions League semi-final defeat to Liverpool, giving some late hope of a Stadio Olimpico comeback. Edin Dzeko Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Quarter-final (Wolfsburg, 2009-10) For someone who spent four-and-a-half years with high-spending Premier League giants Manchester City, it may come as something of a surprise to learn that neither of Dzeko's best runs in each of Europe's two competitions came while at the Etihad Stadium. Instead, it was as part of a successful Wolfsburg side that he reached the Europa League quarter-finals, having dropped down from the Champions League the year after winning the German title. Nearly a decade later, he was the only Roma player to score in both legs of the CL semi-final against Liverpool. Aleksandar Kolarov Champions League best: Semi-final (Manchester City, 2015-16; Roma 2017-18) Europa League best: Round of 16 (Manchester City, 2010-11 and 2011-12) Another part of the unfortunate Roma side to lose in the Champions League semi-finals, Kolarov was the only member of that squad for whom the last four wasn't uncharted territory. Man City were edged out by eventual champions Real Madrid in the semi-final in 2016 - certainly a higher calibre opponent than the ones who had curtailed their furthest Europa League era ventures, with Dynamo Kyiv and Sporting CP being responsible for their Round of 16 exits in Kolarov's first two years at the club. Pau Lopez Champions League best: Group stage (Tottenham Hotspur, 2016-17) Europa League best: Round of 32 (Tottenham Hotspur, 2016-17; Real Betis, 2018-19) Despite being Roma's most expensive goalkeeper signing of all-time, Pau Lopez is yet to fully convince in his short time at the club. Unless Fonseca opts to rotate, the Europa League could be where Lopez comes into his own, but he has limited international pedigree. He never played in his sole season at Tottenham, where their European record was poor, meaning his Europa League debut only came last season, with Real Betis. They conceded six goals over two legs as they lost to Rennes, despite having won their group with just two goals conceded. Mert Cetin Champions League best: N/A Europa League best: N/A Roma's least high-profile summer signing, Cetin has never featured in European competition - and is unlikely to change that this year, having been left out of the squad for the group stages. Cengiz Under Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Play-off round (Istanbul Basaksehir, 2016-17) Under has grown into one of Roma's most important players over the last two years, but is yet to feature in the Europa League group stages. His only previous taste of the competition came when Fonseca's Shakhtar beat Istanbul Basaksehir - one of Roma's Group J opponents this season - in the play-off round. He secured his move to Roma the year after, playing his part in the run to the last four of the Champions League in his first taste of the competition. Davide Santon Champions League best: Winner (Inter, 2009-10) Europa League best: Quarter-final (Newcastle United, 2012-13) The only Champions League winner in Roma's squad isn't even a regular starter. Santon made one appearance on Inter's road to the 2010 final, where they beat Bayern Munich 2-0. He returned to Inter in 2015, a couple of years after reaching the Europa League quarter-finals with Newcastle. Nikola Kalinic Champions League best: Round of 16 (Atletico Madrid, 2018-19) Europa League best: Runner up (Dnipro, 2014-15) Roma's new back-up striker won the UEFA Super Cup in 2018 (as an unused sub), but was not part of the Atletico Madrid side that qualified for the event by winning the previous year's Champions League. Instead, his best ever CL run came last season, when Atletico, like Roma, lost in the Last 16 despite winning their first leg match. He has scored in a European final though, giving Dnipro the lead in the 2015 Europa League final, which they weren't able to defend against Sevilla. Federico Fazio Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Winner (Sevilla, 2013-14; 2015-16) Kalinic's Dnipro couldn't topple Sevilla in that game, which was sandwiched between the two Europa League titles that Fazio won with the club. In 2014, he played all of the final as Sevilla beat Benfica on penalties in Turin, while having returned to the club on loan from Tottenham for the latter half of the 2015-16 season, he was not used as the Spaniards beat Liverpool - who exacted their revenge on Fazio at Roma two seasons later in the Champions League semis.
Jordan Veretout Champions League best: N/A Europa League best: Round of 32 (Saint-Ettiene, 2016-17) One of the least experienced members of Roma's squad in terms of international activity, midfielder Veretout has only played in the Europa League once before. His Saint-Ettiene side topped their group after navigating the qualifiers in 2016-17, but were the first knockout victims of Smalling's Man Utd, who beat them 4-0 on aggregate in the Last 32. Nicolo Zaniolo Champions League best: Round of 16 (Roma, 2018-19) Europa League best: N/A Zaniolo's Roma debut actually came in the Champions League, before he had even played in Serie A. The midfielder made the most of his opportunities and became the youngest Italian player to score a CL brace in the Round of 16 first leg against Porto. The return leg did not go to plan, however, as Roma crashed out of the competition. Now, he will have his first chance to play in the secondary competition, the Europa League. Gianluca Mancini Champions League best: N/A Europa League best: Round of 32 (Atalanta, 2017-18) Mancini had the chance to be part of Atalanta's first ever Champions League side this season, and thus to make his debut in the competition, but sacrificed it to move to a bigger club in Roma. Another player upon whom expectations will be high despite a lack of European experience, Mancini did not play in any of the games when Atalanta reached the Round of 32 in his first season there. The year after, he played three times, scoring once, as they lost in the play-off round on penalties to Copenhagen. Alessandro Florenzi Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: Round of 16 (Roma, 2014-15 and 2016-17) A loyal player whose only permanent home has been boyhood club Roma, Florenzi will be hoping to captain Roma to success this season. In the past, when serving as a vice-captain behind Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi, he reached the Europa League Round of 16 on two occasions. Roma lost to Fiorentina and Lyon respectively, before he was part of the first post-Totti side, which instantly reached its furthest ever stage in the Champions League era. Javier Pastore Champions League best: Quarter-final (PSG, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16) Europa League best: Group stage (Palermo, 2010-11; PSG, 2011-12) For a player of his pedigree, Pastore's record in Europe makes for rather disappointing reading. The attacking midfielder was part of a PSG side still finding their feet on the continent, as they lost in the quarter-finals in four successive seasons. In the Europa League - which he will be playing in for the first time in eight seasons - he has never made it beyond the group stage, as both Palermo and PSG finished third when he was involved with them. Leonardo Spinazzola Champions League best: Quarter-final (Juventus, 2018-19) Europa League best: Round of 32 (Atalanta, 2017-18) Despite being at Juventus since 2012, a series of loan spells meant Spinazzola's European debut was delayed until 2017, when he helped Atalanta to the Round of 32, playing in six games. His form in Bergamo was rewarded with a Juventus return the next season, but they couldn't beat Dutch giants Ajax in the quarter-finals. He played just one game in the tournament, but will have more opportunities in Europe with Roma. Amadou Diawara Champions League best: Round of 16 (Napoli, 2016-17) Europa League best: Quarter-final (Napoli, 2018-19) One of the players who could benefit from Fonseca's rotation policy in Europe, Diawara's only previous experiences in continental competitions came with Napoli. In his first year there, they reached the Round of 16 of the Champions League, the furthest the club has ever been in the tournament. After coming third in their group in each of the last two seasons, they dropped down to the Europa League, losing to RB Leipzig in the Round of 32 in 2018, and reaching the quarter-finals in 2019, where they were beaten by Henrikh Mkhitaryan's Arsenal without scoring. Mirko Antonucci Champions League best: Semi-final (Roma, 2017-18) Europa League best: N/A Only included on Roma's secondary squad list for the group stage, the Italian youngster came on as a last-throw-of-the-dice sub in the second leg against Liverpool in the Champions League two seasons ago. Daniel Fuzato Champions League best: N/A Europa League best: N/A Signed from Palmeiras last summer, Fuzato is yet to make his senior debut for Roma, and has not been included on the squad list for this year's group stages. Henrikh Mkhitaryan Champions League best: Quarter-final (Shakhtar, 2010-11; Borussia Dortmund, 2013-14) Europa League best: Winner (Manchester United, 2016-17) The last Europa League winner on this list, Mkhitaryan started and scored in Man Utd's 2-0 win over Ajax in 2017. After moving to Arsenal, he should have had the chance to play in another final last season, but political tensions between host venue for the final, Azerbaijan, and Mkhitaryan's home country, Armenia, meant he did not travel as his side lost to Chelsea. In the Champions League, he has reached the quarter-finals on two occasions. In 2011, after beating Roma in the Round of 16, Mkhitaryan's Shakhtar lost to Barcelona. Later, the Dortmund side he joined in 2013 had reached the CL final the season before, but weren't able to repeat the feat.
Antonio Mirante Champions League best: Round of 16 (Roma, 2018-19) Europa League best: Group stage (Sampdoria, 2008-09) Veteran keeper Mirante made his Champions League debut with Roma last season, playing once in the group stage versus Viktoria Plzen and then in the first leg of the Round of 16 against Porto. Roma won that leg, but when Robin Olsen returned in his place for the second leg, it was an extra time elimination for the Giallorossi. This year, Mirante may be given the chance to play in the Europa League for the first time in over a decade, having previously kept goal for Sampdoria on three occasions over two seasons in the tournament. Justin Kluivert Champions League best: Round of 16 (Roma, 2018-19) Europa League best: Runner up (Ajax, 2016-17) Kluivert had to watch on as a spectator as his former Ajax side marched to the semi-finals of last season's Champions League, having moved to Roma last summer. He could only reach the Round of 16 with his new side, but it was still better than the qualifying eliminations he had experienced in his previous two seasons with the Dutch side. The first of those led them to the Europa League final, where Kluivert stayed on the bench as Mkhitaryan helped fire Man Utd to the trophy. Now, the duo are teammates, and with both having unfinished business in the competition, they will be hoping to go far with Roma.
Roma earned their first win of the season in emphatic fashion on Sunday, hammering Sassuolo 4-2 at Stadio Olimpico.
After a week off due to the international break, some rustiness would have been expected, but Roma blasted away any signs of that by scoring four goals within the first 35 minutes. After Roma were awarded a penalty, which was then overturned by VAR, Bryan Cristante headed in Lorenzo Pellegrini's corner to make it 1-0. Edin Dzeko doubled the lead by tapping home Aleksandar Kolarov's delightful low cross, before Pellegrini completed a hat-trick of assists by setting up debutant Henrikh Mkhitaryan and winger Justin Kluivert. Domenico Berardi hit back with a brace in the second half, including a perfectly-placed free kick, but Roma held on for all three points. Here are the major talking points from the game. Pellegrini pivotal in preferred role There aren't enough words to describe how sensational Lorenzo Pellegrini was against his former side. After starting the season as a central midfielder, the Roma academy graduate was pushed forward into his preferred number 10 role, and showed exactly why he needs to play there. His passing was exquisite, with none of his three assists being easy. Such creativity has not been seen from a Roma attacking midfielder since Francesco Totti retired, and with the club legend a big fan of Pellegrini, there is no reason why the 23-year-old can't emulate at least some of what his former captain achieved. Last season it was Nicolo Zaniolo who earned the Totti comparisons, but Pellegrini is much closer to Er Pupone in terms of ability and playing style. It is abundantly clear now that Pellegrini must be a starter every week, and always as a trequartista if possible. If there was one downside to his game, it was that he took too many risks with dangerous sliding challenges - something that has also been said of Zaniolo when he has played. But that very criticism can also be levelled as a compliment, as it showed his hunger and desire to make an impact. He was over the pitch like a rash, covering every blade of grass. Pellegrini can be the engine Roma have been lacking in midfield since Radja Nainggolan left in 2018. Right application of Kluivert Another player to thrive after a position change was Justin Kluivert. He had started Roma's first two games of the season on the left wing, but was ineffective and made poor decisions. With Cengiz Under out injured, though, Paulo Fonseca was forced to push the Dutchman over to the right wing, and it was a blessing in disguise. Kluivert is a completely different player when he plays on the right wing. He can charge down the channel and create danger with a more direct approach. His use there may not fit in with Fonseca's preference for inverted wingers, but sometimes exceptions have to be made. All of Kluivert's best performances for Roma have come on the right wing. It was from that position that he set up Dzeko with a cross on his debut against Torino last season, for Roma's first goal of 2018-19. It was from the right that he recorded two more assists against Fiorentina in April, a game that was the first of a 12-game unbeaten run that is still going for Roma. On Sunday, he started well by winning the (non) penalty, and his finish showed the kind of composure he has rarely displayed when playing on the left. Thus, Kluivert is another case of a player who needs to be used in a specific role to succeed. Positive debuts Roma played a fast-flowing possession game, and key to its success were two new signings. Jordan Veretout and Mkhitaryan were brought in for their first starts, and both made an immediate impact. Veretout provided balance in the midfield - surely a benefit given that he can allow Pellegrini to be unleashed further up the pitch. As for Mkhitaryan, his quality was clear to see. The Armenian thrives on getting the ball and moving it on quickly to teammates, meaning he can be the glue to Roma's attacking quartet. His left-footed finish for his goal was sublime. In an interview before Armenia played Bosnia-Herzegovina last week, Dzeko had vowed to help Mkhitaryan adapt to Italian football, a difficult transition for many. But from first viewings, the on-loan Arsenal man may not need Dzeko's help at all. He settled in straight away and proved he has a big part to play this season. Drop off in intensity worrying In many ways, Roma should be disappointed they only scored four. There were numerous chances to extend the lead shortly after the break, with Dzeko smashing a header against the crossbar and Pellegrini skimming the post, the closest he came to scoring in a performance that more than deserved a goal. Beyond the hour mark, though, Roma took their foot of the gas a little too much. With a busy schedule coming up, it's easy to see why they would afford themselves a little rest. However, they dropped down one or two gears too many, which nearly allowed Sassuolo a way back into the game. The common belief is that the noble thing to do when taking such a big lead is to let up and show respect to the opponents, but after all the questions raised from the opening two games, how good it would have been if Roma had sent out an emphatic statement by scoring six or seven. Instead, some of those questions are still lingering. Who has Fonseca's faith? One way Roma could have kept the pace higher would have been to bring on a sub earlier - someone with a point to prove. It could have been a great opportunity for Mirko Antonucci, for example. The youngster could have left on loan this summer, but Fonseca appears to believe in him, so he stayed. If that really is the case though, then why not bring him on when there was still a three-goal advantage an hour in? It remains to be seen if Antonucci can really do it at the top level, with his lack of physicality a major concern. But if he can't get a run out when the lead is so healthy, then when can he? It would have been an ample opportunity for him to prove himself. Instead, Javier Pastore came on - to a chorus of boos - with six minutes to go, and let himself down by missing an easy headed chance. With Pellegrini and Zaniolo seemingly the main options in attacking midfield now, Antonucci and Pastore may find their chances very limited. Player Ratings: Lopez 6; Florenzi 6; Mancini 6; Fazio 7; Kolarov 8; Veretout 7; Cristante 7; Kluivert 8; Pellegrini 9; Mkhitaryan 8; Dzeko 8 Subs: Spinazzola 6; Zaniolo 6; Pastore 3 Coach: Fonseca 7 Man of the Match: Pellegrini
A first win of the season will be the target as Roma host Sassuolo upon their return from the international break on Sunday.
Before the players headed off with their countries, Paulo Fonseca led his side to two successive draws in Serie A - with Genoa and Lazio preventing the coach from gaining his first win with Roma. Since then, Roma had a final flourish in the transfer market, bringing in Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nikola Kalinic on deadline day. The former could play a key role if called up for his debut, given that Diego Perotti and Cengiz Under are injured, and Justin Kluivert is struggling for form. Fellow new arrival Chris Smalling had potentially been in line for a club debut after being an unused substitute against Lazio, but a minor groin injury picked up in training through the week has delayed his first appearance for his new side. The Englishman has already become the fifth player to be consigned to the treatment tables this season - after Perotti, Under, Davide Zappacosta and Leonardo Spinazzola. The latter, signed from Juventus this summer, is ready to return having been called back up to the squad, but is unlikely to start given the positive opening to the season for fellow left-back Aleksandar Kolarov. After scoring against former side Lazio in the Derby Della Capitale, the Serbian captained his country in two games during the international break, providing an assist in their win over Luxembourg. Kolarov is one of several players to have performed well over the international break, who will be hoping to transmit their form over to club level. Mkhitaryan scored twice as his country won 4-2 against Bosnia-Herzegovina, for whom Roma talisman Edin Dzeko also found the back of the net. A few days earlier, Mkhitaryan had come up against his new clubmates Alessandro Florenzi and Lorenzo Pellegrini in a clash with Italy, in which the latter scored his first international goal.
So far, Fonseca has deployed Pellegrini in a deeper role than the one he usually plays for the national team, but that could change on Sunday. Summer signings Jordan Veretout and Amadou Diawara are pushing for starting berths in the double midfield pivot, which would allow Pellegrini to slot into his preferred trequartista role, shifting Nicolo Zaniolo - who scored his first Roma goal against the same opponents last season - out to the wing to deputise for the sidelined Under.
Pellegrini will not be the only player to be coming up against his former club. Striker Gregoire Defrel returned to the Mapei Stadium this summer after a disappointing two years with Roma. However, he did manage to score against his parent club when on loan at Sampdoria last season, so the Giallorossi will be eager to avoid a similar fate, as they push for a first three points of the year. It's a slightly earlier kick-off than usual, with the game scheduled to start at 5pm UK time. It will be shown live on Premier Sports 1.
|
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
|