ROMA – Under the eyes of Dan e Ryan Friedkin, sitting in the stands at the Bentegodi, la Roma of Fonseca begins its season with a 0-0 that leaves many regrets and some certainty. On the one hand, a problem is already evident, that of finalization. Without Dzeko (on the bench for the whole match waiting for the transfer to Juve) the team is unable to find the goal despite a considerable amount of opportunities built up, especially in the first half. The positive notes, however, are not lacking: the stratospheric state of form of Spinazzola and the superior quality of Pedro. With Belong things should improve, at least up front. At the Bentegodi, however, Roma also risked losing with the hosts capable of hitting two sensational sleepers against one hit by the Giallorossi in the final. In the middle many wasted goals, continuous reversals of the front, a nice match and a very high race pace despite the championship just starting.
The training choices
Fonseca chooses for the first time Pedro holder and leaves, as expected, Dzeko on the bench. There is in the door Viewpoint favorite to Pau Lopez. Cristante in the role that will be – at least this is the hope of the Portuguese coach – of Smalling. On the outside Spinazzola on the left and Karsdorp on the opposite side. Pilgrims in the field with the captain’s armband. Juric is in total emergency: there is no new signing Favilli, Lazovic, Magnani and Benassi are out of action with Empereur forced to leave after a few minutes due to a muscle problem. In defense there is the former Roma Cetin while the adventure of Barak all’Hellas.
A beautiful Roma in the first half: but the goal?
The first half is a monologue from Roma, almost. The Giallorossi make the game, build effective plots, verticalize with great danger, collect scoring repeatedly but do not finalize. Not a small problem. The absence of a weight tip like Dzeko in front of it you hear it despite Mkhitaryan also do the impossible not to make him regret it. The Armenian talks which is a beauty with Pedro, at the debut and with a mad desire to break the world but short of breath enough to fade after a good half hour played at a thousand per hour. The Rome of Fonseca seems in the game. It is fast and scares the fragile opponent’s rearguard several times with sudden verticalizations and the great ideas on the left of Spinazzola (more involved than Karsdorp on the opposite side), at times impregnable and by far the best in the field. However, the numerous raids of the blue winger are never exploited by the teammates who under measure do not find the mirror of the goal devouring goals in succession with Pedro e Mkhiratyan among the most inaccurate. And Verona? It undergoes but does not just do that. He attacks Roma with determination in the middle of the field despite one evident difference in technical values but as soon as he gets the chance he tries to prick as in closing time when Tameze incredibly hits the crossbar on a dream assist from Pharaohs. On this occasion, the intervention of pure instinct is decisive Viewpoint. Unfortunate episode aside, the Roma defense holds up well without leaving the opponents great opportunities. Cristante central defense next to Mancini e Ibanez forms a wall that Verona’s forwards can only scratch without ever collapsing. Also good in the middle of the field Veretout e Pilgrims.
The festival of crosses
In the second half the Verona restarts with Weather in Zaccagni instead of disappointing Tupta. The rhythms are high, the game remains pleasant with continuous reversals in front. The hosts return more convinced and touch the goal first with Of Carmine and then with Pharaohs. Rome appears less dominant and decidedly more out of breath. Pedro, again tonic and snappy as at the start of the match, he builds a couple of scoring chances but he is unable to finalize. Verona close to the lead in the 65th minute with a header from Di Carmine under measure slightly tall. It is an alarm signal for the defense of Roma and a light on for Juric who understands he can take home the full loot. Inside, therefore, the new purchase Barak and the defender Ruegg. Fresh forces for a much more lively team than the one seen in the first part. Rome, however, returns to be very dangerous in the 74th minute with one conclusion from the Pellegrini limit deflected for a corner by a super Silvestri. Fonseca takes away the exhausted Karsdorp for Santon and inserts Kluivert in place of Pellegrini. At 82 ‘Verona hits his second sensational crossbar of the evening with a cross-shot of Dimarco that bypasses Mirante with an unpredictable trajectory. The finish is heart-pounding. 86 ‘ Spinazzola he invents a flying shot as a champion but the ball is printed on the crossbar. It’s a haunted night for both teams. The 0-0 final does not reflect what we saw on the pitch: the Bentegodi match was a really fun match.
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