Tuesday’s collapse against Manchester United in the Champions League could have been a potential pitfall for Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma. After racing to a 2-0 lead by the 17th minute, the Giallorossi seemed poised to steal three crucial points from one of football’s most storied clubs. However, rather than leaving Old Trafford with their heads held high, Roma slunk away defeated, squandering a two-goal lead due to questionable officiating and a general lack of resolve late in the match.
In years
past, tossing up a Roma Happened result under the bright lights of the Champions League would have sunk the Giallorossi, especially since they did nearly the same thing a month earlier against Real Madrid, prompting cries for wholesale turnover, if not outright protests outside the gates of Trigoria. However, as a measure of how far the club has come in its second year under Gasperini, Roma has not only avoided a total collapse, but is edging toward a historic mark.
After consecutive blowout wins over Cagliari and Udinese, Roma entered today’s Round 11 fixture against Sassuolo with a 17-match unbeaten streak in Serie A. While injuries and suspensions have occasionally spoiled the fun, Roma boasts one of Italy’s deepest and most balanced sides. A victory today over Sassuolo would not only have kept the good vibes rolling, pushing the unbeaten streak to 18 matches, but it could also have set the stage for Roma to move into second place.
With first-place Lazio and second-place Inter Milan facing tricky Sunday fixtures against Napoli and Como, respectively, a win over Alberto Aquilani’s Sassuolo side could send Roma into the international break safely ensconced in second place, potentially only one point behind Lazio.
While they didn’t break the seal immediately, tonight’s result was seldom in doubt and was officially put to bed by the half-hour mark, following a wonderfully struck ball from Mario Hermoso in the 27th minute, which was soon followed by a Sebastian Walukiewicz own goal, forced by Malen effort from the edge of the box.
And that, believe it or not, was really all she wrote. Rodrigo Mora would add a third goal in the 58th minute, working a tidy little give-and-go with Malen at the edge of the 18, giving the Portuguese sensation goals in three consecutive matches.
Final Thoughts
With an 8-3-0 record and a sporting league-leading +21 goal differential heading into the international break, Roma is building a case as a credible Scudetto contender. Thanks to the likes of Malen, Mora, and Matías Soulé, Roma has one of the league’s most prolific attacks, while their backline has stifled opponents all season, giving Gasperini a remarkably well-rounded squad capable of competing with any side in the league.
Now that the injury bug is relenting and the likes of Manu Koné, Mile Svilar, and Paulo Dybala are back in the fold or returning soon, Roma’s arrow is pointing even higher. With another tough slate of fixtures after the break, including tilts against PSG, Sporting, Lazio, and Juventus, the Giallorossi have a chance to distinguish themselves even further before the New Year.
Up Next
The international break! We’ll use the two-week pause to explore some of the traits we’ve seen over the past few weeks, as well as provide updates on Roma’s loanees and much more.
