Yesterday’s win over Lazio in the Derby della Capitale was significant for several reasons. Aside from being a typically heated fixture between the Stadio Olimpico’s co-tenants (literally and figuratively,
given the heat at kickoff), the game presented additional obstacles for Gian Piero Gasperini. These included replacing two key starters, Mario Hermoso and Wesley, and adapting to life without the injured Paulo Dybala, who often alternates between starting and coming off the bench. And all those last-minute adjustments came in the wake of Roma’s unexpected 1-0 loss to Torino last weekend, which disrupted the club’s perfect start to the season.
After overcoming another sluggish start to the match, Roma came away with three points to keep pace with Juventus, AC Milan, Napoli, and Inter Milan in the early race for Italy’s four Champions League places. Couple that with retaining Roman bragging rights, and the Giallorossi had themselves a nice little Sunday at the office.
With that in mind, let’s pass out some derby-tinged halos!
The Saints
Lorenzo Pellegrini
While it wasn’t quite torn from the pages of a Hollywood script, given all the turmoil surrounding Pellegrini over the past few years, if this was truly his last look at Lazio, Pellegrini finished with a flourish. By scoring the match-winning goal in what is very likely his final Derby della Capitale (and his fourth against Lazio in 17 matches), Pellegrini stole the headlines (and hearts) following Sunday’s 1-0 win over Lazio in the 186th Derby della Capitale.
While Pellegrini’s performance yesterday could lead to a larger role (or any role, let’s be real) for the rest of the season, with his contract expiring in June and Gasperini being quite vocal about the former captain’s place on his team, Pellegrini likely ended his derby career on a high note—and that’s certainly cause for celebration.
Manu Koné
Like a proverbial pinball bouncing off the rails, Koné was his typical frenetic self, making life miserable for Lazio in attack, defense, and transition. In 90 hard-fought minutes, Koné was almost perfect, misplacing only three passes, winning seven of twelve duels, completing two successful dribbles from two attempts, and generally doing whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.
Radja Nainngolan may not think Koné is a complete midfielder, but he’s not far off. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair to the opposition if he started scoring goals.
Matías Soulé
Although he didn’t score in Sunday’s match against Lazio, the young Argentinian winger was once again Roma’s most effective creative force. With 45 touches, Soulé provided three key passes, completed three of six crosses, one of two long balls, and contributed three defensive actions. And, of course, there was his assist on Pellegrini’s match-winner, where he quickly scooped up the loose ball and squared it to Roma’s former captain without hesitation.
I’ll be curious to see his final goal tally, but even if he remains in single digits, the 22-year-old winger is looking at a breakout campaign.
Devyne Rensch
And now, the man that yours truly might have underestimated this summer in our U-23 countdown. Although he was ostensibly filling in for Wesley, who missed the match due to illness, the 22-year-old Dutch defender made a case for more playing time as we enter the busy part of the season.
Although he didn’t generate much offense yesterday afternoon, Rensch was a thorn in Lazio’s side on Sunday. In 90 minutes, Rensch completed an impressive 70% of his duels, while drawing two fouls. However, without a doubt, his biggest contribution was dislodging the ball from Nuno Tavares in the 38th minute, kicking off a chain of events that led to Pellegrini’s match-winner.
Despite the 1-0 win, we do have to sharpen our pitchforks real quick…
The Sinners
Gianluca Mancini
Mancini had a mostly solid afternoon (nine defensive actions, including five clearances), but nearly cost Roma the game when he badly misplayed a ball that led to a Boulaye Dia breakaway that would’ve produced a crippling equalizer nine times out of ten.
(Video links directly to the sequence mentioned above)
You might call it a nitpick, but this could have been a disastrous sequence. Coupled with his subpar performance last week against Torino, Mancini is slipping as the club enters a critical stretch of multiple matches per week in Serie A and the Europa League. And until Daniele Ghilardi and Jan Ziolkowski are fully integrated into the rotation, Roma can ill afford missteps like this—they will be counting on 90 sharp minutes from Mancini quite often over the next several weeks.
Stuck In Between
Angeliño
We haven’t talked much about the Spanish wing-back this season, but Angeliño turned in a nice all-around performance against Lazio yesterday. In 90 minutes, Angeliño chipped in five defensive actions, two key passes, and one camera-deceiving shot into the side netting. Roma will likely seek upgrades and/or competition at the position next summer, and perhaps even this winter, but Angeliño keeps plugging away.
Evan Ferguson
Similar to last weekend’s performance, Ferguson did all the dirty stuff well, including creating a big chance per SofaScore, but until the goals start coming, it’s the post-match purgatory for the Irishman. Still, Gasperini has to find a way to get him more touches in the area and attempts on goal—you don’t (potentially) pay €40 million for a striker to play decoy.
Zeki Celik
Playing the RCB role that served him so well under Claudio Ranieri last spring, Celik was sharp on Sunday: Five tackles, two interceptions and one tackle while completing 91% of his passes. Having a versatile and dependable defensive piece like this off the bench is invaluable for any club, especially one as thin and/or inexperienced at the back as Roma.
