GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma resisted some second half pressure from Empoli to secure another win and clean sheet on Saturday night, wrapping up a 2-0 victory.
It takes Roma into the international break having secured four wins from their last four games, form which has propelled them into the top three of Serie A. The side seem to have rediscovered their mojo after an indifferent start to the campaign, although some alarm bells still rang in this game, as Empoli gave it a good go. However, there were still some great individual performances across the park. Here's how each player performed. Robin Olsen - 7.5 It was a fairly comfortable evening for Olsen in the Roma goal. Even though Empoli managed more shots than Roma, only four of them went on target. However, Olsen was always alert and decisive, spotting the danger and protecting his goal well. Davide Santon - 7 Restored to the starting lineup after sitting out the Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen, Santon did well throughout the game. He showed strength and positional awareness, and his versatility came in useful when he shifted over to left-back upon Luca Pellegrini’s exit from the field of play. Kostas Manolas - 6.5 Empoli did manage to break in behind sometimes, but they were often caught offside, testament to the defensive line that Manolas had organised. With most of the action coming towards Roma’s left, he wasn’t always at the heart of the defensive action, but he was a binding force for the backline as a whole. Federico Fazio - 6 It was a decent performance from Fazio, although he sometimes struggled to keep up with runners in behind. Occasionally he lost the ball too easily, but most of the time he did well enough in and out of possession. Luca Pellegrini - 6 It was a mixed full debut for Luca Pellegrini, who looked good on the ball going forward. However, he was sometimes caught out defensively, leading to a careless booking after getting caught wrong side of his marker. Nonetheless, it was a good outing for the 19-year-old, and definitely gives the side something to build on. Steven Nzonzi - 7.5 After getting back up to pace in terms of match fitness, Nzonzi has found his rhythm and sharpness, and it came to the fore as he capped off a great performance with his first goal for the club. He helped control the flow of the game in midfield, particularly in the first half, and is showing why Monchi wanted to bring him to the club so eagerly. Daniele De Rossi - 8 Even at the age of 35, De Rossi dictated the midfield battle. He played like a man much younger than himself, playing good passes, recovering ground well when losing possession and making key challenges. He was the glue that bound the team together. Cengiz Under - 7 A bright spark going forward, Under showed his willingness to be positive as he looked to be an effective attacking outlet. He took on some quick shots and also was involved in some good passages of play. It was a hard-working performance, even if he could be capable of more. Lorenzo Pellegrini - 6 Pellegrini is continuing to look more comfortable in a more advanced role, but just lacked a little something on the night. He showed he has pace and energy when given the freedom to roam forward, and he can be clinical with his decision-making, but he didn’t always show it during this game. Stephan El Shaarawy - 6 El Shaarawy seemed to struggle to grow into the rhythm of the game. It wasn’t a poor performance but it certainly wasn’t his best, characteristic of the inconsistency which has plagued him in the last couple of seasons. He was good when dribbling, but needs to be more incisive in the final third on a regular basis. Edin Dzeko - 8 Calm and composed, Dzeko led from the front. He showed his experience and leadership in the second half when Empoli were growing into the game, helping to take the sting out of the game with his clever rotation of possession. He got the goal his performance deserved, showing his typical confidence in front of goal no matter how many players were marking him. Subs: Alessandro Florenzi - 6.5 Replacing Luca Pellegrini, Florenzi added solidity at right-back and put in a couple of inviting crosses, although the attackers didn’t always meet them. Bryan Cristante - 5 He didn’t get long to grow into the game, but Cristante struggled to impose himself on it properly. Juan Jesus - 5 Brought on so that Eusebio Di Francesco could change the system, Jesus added cover on the left side of defence, which is where Empoli were getting their joy. After he came on, that seemed to stop, although that wasn't necessarily all down to Jesus. Coach: Eusebio Di Francesco - 7 In terms of team selection, he got the balance right, including the decisions to bring Santon and De Rossi back in. He recognised the right time to bring Luca Pellegrini off, and also noticed the danger Empoli were posing, when he adapted to a back three. All in all, his decisions were shrewd and helped Roma to the win.
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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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October 2019
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