AS Roma – Bologna: Wesley’s Snipe Pushes Bologna To The Blade (1-0)

Between two aggressive man-marking coaches, one had much better routes than the other. The profiles down the channels are not to his usual taste, but Gian Piero Gasperini had laid enough principles for a Roman win, his first for his new team.

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

The Friedkins went into another season without Champions League football in Rome, but after Claudio Ranieri restored dignity, they made an appointment that restored hope.

After nine miracle years in Bergamo, Gasperini arrived in the capital with his aggressive football, militant preparations and combative press conferences still intact. However, as Roma made this massive change, their activity in the market has been slow. The departure of Technical Director, Florent Ghisolfi, to Sunderland in mid-June had played in effect, but his replacement, Frederic Massara, has got deals over the line. Wesley joined from Flamengo, a wing-back who doesn’t fit the physical profile Gasperini usually likes for his widest player. In Neil El Aynaoui, Roma now has two center-midfielders (himself and Manu Konè) who can provide the aggressive defensive distances, whilst Evan Ferguson will look to rekindle his form from two years ago at Brighton. Although Leon Bailey has also joined on loan, Roma still appears short in the attack, especially with a forward who could connect centrally between the lines. 

Their first test would be Coppa Italia winners Bologna, the first time back at the Stadio Olimpico since their triumph. Vincenzo Italiano went into the new season with two major departures, Sam Beukema and Dan Ndoye, but their transfer activity has also been quite slow. Martin Vitík is a strong . . .