The Giallorossi head into the second international break of the season unbeaten after coasting to a 3-0 victory over Sassuolo at the Olimpico on Sunday. The win extends Roma’s unbeaten run in Serie A to 18, dating back to last season. Perhaps the most impressive part has been the injuries the Giallorossi have overcome over the last month to keep that run going.
Before the Giallorossi begin to heal their last wounds over the next two weeks, let’s look at some key figures from Saturday’s performance.
3
As in the number of goalkeepers who have now kept a clean sheet for Roma during this Serie A campaign. Yesterday, Devis Vasquez only had to make one save on Nemanja Matic just three minutes into the match to ensure that Roma would blank Sassuolo. However, the fact that Roma has had to play three different goalkeepers and has been able to sustain a defensive record that concedes less than a goal per match and has kept six clean sheets in 11 matches is as much a testament to the outfield players and Gasperini’s system as it is tothe keepers.
31
As in the number of league goals Roma has scored this season in 11 Serie A matches. That makes Roma just the 4th team in the last 65 years to score 30 or more goals in 11 matches. In fact, Roma has scored 2 or more goals in ten of those matches. The only match the Giallorossi didn’t score in was a 0-0 draw at Como, when they were down a man. And only Barcelona have scored more across Europe’s top 5 leagues (45 and still to play today). Gasperini’s ball has been taken to the next level this season, as management has recruited players who fit his system. However, it’s not just the attackers carrying all the load, as 12 different players have scored in league play.
4
As in the number of consecutive matches that Rodrigo Mora has recorded a goal contribution. Mora’s goal yesterday was his third consecutive league match with a goal after he previously netted against Cagliari and Udinese. He also assisted Matías Soulé‘s opening goal against Manchester United. The young Portuguese talent is finding his feet in Rome and looks like an excellent signing. And his development under Gasperini has been rewarded with a senior national team call-up for Portugal.
6
As in the number of successful dribbles by Matías Soulé in the match, including one where he rounded the keeper and laid it on a platter for Malen, who was unable to finish the gimmie. That brings his total to 28 in the Serie A campaign—just two off the league lead held by Giorgi Kvernadze of Frosinone. Soulé has been nothing short of spectacular in Paulo Dybala’s absence and continues to develop into a star under Gasperini’s tutelage.
