Score: A.S Roma 2 Hellas Verona 1FT
Following back-to-back wins against Brescia and Parma Roma look to make it three on the bounce as they prepare for a crucial game that could set them up for the biggest game of the season against Inter Milan on Sunday. However, for the time being, Roma had some business to take care of on a Wednesday night at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma welcomes Italy’s surprise package, Hellas Verona, to the Eternal City. These two teams went to battle earlier in the season, with Roma earning a hard-fought 3-1 victory in Verona. Roma looked to do the double against the newly-promoted side. As we learned last week, Roma has not lost against a newly promoted side in their previous 22 games; this was their chance to increase their historical form. Verona, despite being in bad form, has shocked everyone this season; this was a match that was going to provide a legitimate challenge for the Romans. Roma needed to get all three points to give them momentum. It was a battle through 90 minutes, but Roma got in front early as well as supplying some drama. A Verona penalty claim was denied, and just a few minutes after Roma was given a Penalty. The Verona manager was given a red card for his malicious approach against the referee. Jordan veretout stepped up and converted from 12 yards out as Roma took a 1-0 lead. In the first half, Roma was incredibly aggressive going forward, and if it wasn’t for small little details, Roma would have extended the lead even further. Although Verona wasn’t going away, they did provide some chances, but Roma an outstanding job defensively, especially early. In the closing moments of the first half, edin Dzeko connected on a Mkhitaryan cross to double the Roma lead. In the second half, Verona turned a switch got back in the game almost immediately. As they minimized the deficit, the rest of the game became a battle. Verona looked incredibly dangerous coming forward; however, Roma’s defense did seem to have the upper hand. Roma quite easily could have extended the lead as they were given to Golden opportunities late in the game; however, Verona kept coming, but in the end, Roma held on pick up another Victory earning all three points for the third consecutive game. The match took a lot out of Roma, but they managed to get the necessary points in a 2-1 victory. Verona deserves a lot of credit, but in the end, Roma prevailed. As Roma continue to ride their momentum.
Paulo Fonseca once again set his team up out of the 4-3-2-1 formation. Returning in goal after being rested earlier in the week would be the Spaniard Pau Lopez. At left-back would be Alex Kolarov, the center-back would be the youngster Rodger Ibanez then at right-back would be Gianluca Mancini. In at the left-wing back would be Leonardo spinazzola. On the opposite side, as the right wing-back would be Bruno Peres. Then in the defensive Midfield would be the pair of Diawara and Jordan Veretout. Upfront resting underneath the striker would be Mkhitaryan and Lorenzo Pellegrini, then upfront as the Central striker would be edin Dzeko. Roma would also have the likes of Nicolo zaniolo and Carlos Perez Off the Bench.
After preparations and predictions, the match was just about to get underway at the Stadio Olimpico as Roma try to make it two in a row against Hellas Verona, one of the surprise teams of the season. This was going to be a real test for Paulo Fonseca, almost a prove-it game. This game had very early drama on both ends. Gianluca Mancini misfired on early shot to start the game. Roma had possession control, but it was very balanced between two teams that have specific qualities. On a counter-attack, there was a potential penalty call against Roma. However, it was not given. If you look close on the replay, Rodger Ibanez clearly connected with the ball. As Verona was trying to make something out of nothing. On the other end, Roma got on the break releasing Lorenzo Pellegrini inside the Roma Midfidler was clipped. The referee made no hesitations pointing directly to the spot. This infuriated Ivan Juric as the Verona boss started to yell and scream at the referee. He believed it was a soft penalty the referee wasn’t messing around he told Verona’s coach to calm down he disregarded it and continued to yell which caused the referee to reach in his back pocket pulling out a red card sending him to the stands. After all that Jordan veretout in the 10th minute stepped up, converting the penalty down the middle to give Roma a 1-0 lead. It would be the Frenchman’s 5th goal of the season.
Jordan Veretout converts early Penalty to give Roma an 1-0 Lead.
Roma certainly did have the Boost in momentum following the penalty. Roma snapped forward a few times and look really great on the counter. Largely being fueled through the Midfield and the backline, everyone worked together. Verona weren’t slouches they also provided an awful lot. Matteo Pessina had a good look at the goal but misfired. Nonetheless, it was beyond that they came forward very frequently; they had their moments, but they had their limitations as Roma backline avoided the pressure. Rodger Ibanez was sensational, and Gianluca Mancini kept getting in the way being able to make the big stops in the right moments. It was still clear that Roma had that momentum and had the better of the chances, but they weren’t going to go away. Both teams attacked and pressed forward. A large amount on their opportunities being blocked by the backline. Neither goalkeeper was tested that much during this time frame; however, the game opened up. Jordan Veretout saw his shot traveled to high. A few minutes later, henrikh Mkhitaryan would do the same; however, Roma came within inches of doubling the lead on the break. Pellegrini released Mkhitaryan inside as Roma came forward. The Armenian midfielder didn’t have the best angle to strike, but he hit it by the near post; unfortunately, he clipped the bar, but a very easily there Roma could have doubled it. However, in the 45th minute, Roma grasps an opportunity Mkhitaryan following Roma trying to get forward picked off a pass before going on the wing sending it inside that reached the head of edin Dzeko who connected on the cross as the ball ripped through the back of the net to give Roma a 2-0 lead. It would be Edin Dzeko’s 18th of the season and his 105th Roma goal. Roma built a 2-0 lead thanks to edin Dzeko and Jordan veretout.
Edin Dzeko’s Header gives Roma a 2-0 at the end of the half as he scores his 105th Roma goal.
Roma was playing exceptional football in the first half. However, it wasn’t necessarily a dominant performance, but they did have control thanks to an early penalty and a late chance coming at the end of the first half. Even though Verona was down by two goals after the first half, they didn’t seem that out of the game. There weren’t a ton of opportunities and chances coming from them, but they looked dangerous, especially coming forward. Roma, defensively we’re handling them quite naturally, but all it takes is one opportunity to change the outlook. Verona wasted no time getting back into the game. Matteo Pessina beat Pau Lopez after being set up from a pass the center-back could not get there in time as the ball awkwardly found the back of the net to get a goal back in what was a truly brilliant team goal. The center-back could not get there in time as the ball awkwardly found the back of the net to get a goal back. Roma lead became less secure. After the goal, Verona as they looked incredibly dangerous, pressing forward over the next several minutes. Roma defensively still stood tall as slowly they got some of the momentum back that they lost. Roma was probably the better team in the first half even though it didn’t seem like by a large margin in the second half, it was completely balanced. Verona is such a dangerous team, and they showed this on numerous of occasions. However, Roma nearly put the game away when they made something out of nothing. They picked off the ball from the midfield and going forward was Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mkhitaryan. Pellegrini drove the ball all the way into the box before laying it, Mkhitaryan. He struck at an open goal on the volley, but against the odds, the backline made a heroic save in front of the goal. Shortly after, Roma would make some changes as Nicolo zaniolo, zappacosta, and Bryan cristante entered the game. It was a golden opportunity for them to increase it. Verona was pressing at a very high level, but Roma was getting a higher quality of chances. Late in the game, Roma really should have put it away. When Henrikh Mkhitaryan set up edin Dzeko almost alone, but he used too much power and misfired over the goal, it really wasn’t a good performance for the Bosnian. Mkhitaryan came through not long after to try to increase it once again but couldn’t increase the lead. In the closing moments of the game, Verona pressed so much so that they disregarded the backline. They completely throttled Roma with their attack, but once again, some big defensive saves from Gianluca Mancini and others really made the difference as Roma held off a very ambitious and hot Verona side to earn all three points. Momentum continues to drive the team; they are running on fumes.
That’s three wins on the bounce for Roma.
Roma knew going into this game; this was going to be a test, something that was going to push them not only physically but mentally. However, Verona has not been playing well as of late, but they had the tools to break Roma down and get a result. They have been one of the most surprising and Rising teams in Italian football with the team they have they’re capable of doing a whole lot even against some of the bigger teams. They beat Juventus and got the point against Inter Milan last week. They were going to make things difficult on them, and they did exactly what we thought they would. Roma gets an early penalty to put them in the driver’s seat and then get another goal at the end of the first half as edin Dzeko, and Jordan veretout gave Roma cushion going in that second half. However, that collapsed really quickly in the second half. Hellas Verona came out firing; they get the equalizer, and then they have all the momentum driving for them. Roma does have the better team, and because of this, they were able to create some high-quality chances several that Roma should have put away. Have the results been different; it would have come down to those little chances to make a big difference. Edin Dzeko and henrikh Mkhitaryan both had some fabulous opportunities that they just wasted. They were scraping on a one-goal lead they had to hold on to it until the bitter end. The back three worked again, and defensively Roma was incredible. Despite the number of times that Rodger Ibanez got injured or knocked down, he was absolutely breathtaking. It’s hard to imagine that he has just now recently arrived to the team. Every time Verona had a good chance, he was there to get rid of it, along with Gianluca Mancini also doing his part. Roma’s mental strength Defensively was the most satisfying and impressive part about the victory. Roma did go forward and looked incredibly dangerous, and if Rom can repeat that success against Inter Milan and hit them on the counter, but with a little bit more success, they could legitimately win that game. Rodger Ibanez is my man of the match he has really stepped up the last couple of games, and even though he’s capable of making mistakes on a long ball situation, he beat his man every single time and made things difficult on Verona. Again Verona was superb in this game and probably could have leveled the scores at least got a point Roma’s defense was so strong that that prevented it fell from happening. The only thing I’d say is Roma needs to do a little bit better on executing on the counter edin Dzeko needs to play a little bit better next week I thought he did well to get the goal, but he struggled outside of that. He’s capable of a bit more, and I think we will see that Sunday. If Roma can just be a little bit more ruthless on the attack and be a little bit more clinical in front of goal, they got a great chance this weekend. They now have a four-point gap between themselves and AC Milan and Napoli Roma are in an excellent position with five games to go to not drop out of their place. Paulo Fonseca is formation change has seen the team win three games out of four since He has proven he is the guy to take Roma forward. It’s all smiles from the Romainsta around the world. Daje Roma
MAN OF THE MATCH: Roger Ibanez
Everything Roma 