An analysis of the opposition, Roma | OneFootball

After their comeback win over Udinese, Inter are preparing to face Roma at the Olimpico on Matchday 5 of the league season, the final game before the long international break. It is a big match between two teams at the top of the table with maximum points, both of whom have produced spectacular football at the start of the season. It is a meeting between the league’s best attack, Inter’s, and its best defence, Roma’s, as well as between the two teams with the highest average defensive line in Serie A and two of the three best possession figures (Inter first, Roma third). The Giallorossi head into the big match at the Olimpico on the back of a positive run that stretches back to the end of last season, which coincided with their return to the Champions League. The second year with Gian Piero Gasperini in charge of the Giallorossi has started in the best possible way, with four wins out of four in Serie A, twelve goals scored and one conceded, while the transfer window saw the team’s key players retained and the squad strengthened with talented additions.

FORMATION AND STYLE OF PLAY

After a positive first season, which ended with third place in the league and the development of a clearly defined playing identity, Gasperini has started his second campaign with the Giallorossi at full speed. The principles of his classic 3-4-2-1 have been fully absorbed by the squad, who are putting a fast, dynamic and attacking style of football into practice, with highly positive results in their first four games. The Giallorossi develop their play by making extensive use of the wings and the triangles formed between the defensive centre-back, the wing-back and the attacking midfielder, frequently getting to the byline to deliver crosses. Alongside Malen, one of the two central midfielders (Koné and Cristante) or the opposite centre-back, often Mancini, makes runs into the box to add numbers.

Another key aspect of Roma’s build-up play is breaking through the opposition lines by suddenly looking to play vertically. In this early part of the season, many moves have started with direct balls from Hermoso and Cristante, who find Dybala between the lines. After controlling the ball, the Argentine is free to turn and attack the opposition area, using his quality to feed Malen’s runs in behind. In this regard, the work of the two players behind the striker is crucial: Gasperini has alternated Soulé and Mora alongside Dybala, adding quality and unpredictability to the Giallorossi in the final third. Although the No. 21 often starts from his usual position on the right side, operating almost as an attacking playmaker, he frequently switches roles with the other attacking midfielder to give the opposition defence as few reference points as possible.

Roma are dangerous without the ball as well. The Giallorossi have had the highest average defensive line in the league in these opening games, applying organised man-to-man pressure to win the ball back as high as the opposition final third. The defence pushes up to support the team, as shown by Mancini’s recovery in the build-up to Malen’s goal in Turin, or Hermoso’s long ball after Lecce made a mistake playing out from the back, which again led to a goal from the Dutch striker. However, when Roma’s pressure is beaten or the team makes a mistake in possession, Gasperini’s side have encountered difficulties. Their only goal conceded in these four games, against Atalanta, came after losing the ball in midfield and a quick vertical counter-attack from the Bergamo side. This type of move, with a through ball releasing a forward in behind, has caused the most problems for the Giallorossi defence.

THE START OF THE LEAGUE SEASON

Four wins in their first four league games, something that had not happened since the 2014/15 season: Roma share top spot with Inter on twelve points, with twelve goals scored and one conceded. The Giallorossi began with a 4-0 win over Fiorentina, followed by a 0-4 victory away to Lecce and a 2-1 comeback win against Atalanta, before beating Torino away from home in the last round. In between the games against Atalanta and Torino came their Champions League debut, when the Giallorossi drew 1-1 away to Fenerbahce.

The start of the season has showcased a Roma side that are bright in attack and solid in defence, capable of setting a high tempo for long spells and creating a large number of scoring opportunities. Gasperini’s side attempted 17 shots against Fiorentina, 15 against Lecce and as many as 39 against Atalanta, before registering 14 against Torino, while their Expected Goals figure stands at 2.83 per game on average. They are an attack-minded team, capable of keeping a clean sheet through their counter-pressing and individual duels.

KEY PLAYERS

With a deep squad rich in quality, Roma’s attacking threat is built around the interplay and understanding between Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala, who are respectively the top scorer and leading assist provider after the first four matchdays. The Dutchman has scored six goals, while the Argentine has provided four assists. The two find each other with remarkable ease, as demonstrated in the season opener against Fiorentina: Malen scored a hat-trick, with all three goals assisted by Dybala. The former Aston Villa striker uses his pace to attack the space in behind and can finish moves in a variety of ways, thanks to his ability to find space inside the box. All six of his goals have come from inside the opposition area, with impressive technical and instinctive finishes to beat the goalkeeper. His first goal against Fiorentina, his second at Lecce and his goal against Torino all demonstrate the variety in his finishing repertoire.

Dybala, meanwhile, is the true catalyst for the Giallorossi’s play. Roma’s main attacking threats stem from his movement and his left foot, while his quality in possession and dribbling creates the situations in which Gasperini’s side can establish numerical superiority. Added to that are his ability to play vertically and his quality from set pieces, making him the main source of Roma’s attacking threat. Alongside him, either Soule or Mora operates in the attacking midfield role. They have different characteristics but are equally dangerous between the lines: both offer technical quality, dribbling ability and an eye for goal, as well as the ability to combine in tight spaces and work hard defensively.

The midfield pairing is the complementary duo of Cristante and Koné: two physical players who are capable of pressing effectively and covering a lot of ground, competing strongly in duels and starting attacks. On the wings, an essential area of Roma’s game, Emanuele Lulli, born in 2007, has taken centre stage. Gasperini has started him in every game so far this season, and he has showcased his running power, dribbling and considerable personality. On the left, meanwhile, Wesley and Molina have alternated, with both offering an attacking threat, pace, constant forward movement and quality crosses. The defence is once again led by Gianluca Mancini, the team’s emotional leader. Aggressive and strong in the air, in anticipation and when making forward runs, he patrols the right side of the Giallorossi back line. On the left, Mario Hermoso is the established option and has demonstrated great technical quality in build-up play, while Balerdi, Ghilardi and Ndicka are competing for the central position. In goal, Mile Svilar has become an absolute certainty: assured, reactive and excellent when coming off his line.

Inter will therefore face a strong Roma side riding the enthusiasm of an excellent start to the league season, backed by the passionate atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico. Gasperini’s team arrive with plenty of certainties and few weaknesses, aware that they can trouble any opponent, as they approach the first major crossroads of a season in which they are targeting significant objectives.