Chiesa Di Totti - Serie A, Matchday 8: Roma vs. ParmaCautiously Optimistic Since 2007https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48469/totti-fave.png2020-11-23T17:57:16+01:00http://www.chiesaditotti.com/rss/stream/213526352020-11-23T17:57:16+01:002020-11-23T17:57:16+01:00Across the Romaverse Podcast, Episode 12: Roma vs. Parma Recap
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<img alt="AS Roma v Parma Calcio - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zv3fYLVRLS3ra0jkOXBrV7UJrk8=/0x0:4134x2756/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67850842/1229737613.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by MB Media/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We’re back after the international break hiatus to breakdown Roma’s 3-0 thrashing of Parma at the Olimpico. </p> <p id="h7og36">It’s been two weeks since we last took to the airwaves thanks to the international break, but we’re back with our latest episode of Across the Romaverse. On match day 8, the Giallorossi looked no worse for the wear after a rash of Covid cases and two weeks with no match action. In fact, they picked up right where they left off as they thoroughly dismantled a subpar <a href="https://www.crusaderschorus.com/">Parma</a> side 3-0. In episode 12 of Across the Romaverse, Sean and I break down the win. </p>
<p id="gXWuCd">Other highlights include:</p>
<ul>
<li id="zUAtVr">What’s been key to Roma’s defensive solidity? </li>
<li id="xEoM5P">Is Fonseca to thank for Mayoral hitting his stride? </li>
<li id="2pNVmA">How good has Mkhitaryan been?</li>
<li id="SPHqod">Where does Zaniolo fit when he returns? </li>
<li id="dXRoSz">Is Roma for real? </li>
<li id="w4trWL">What’s next to come for the Giallorossi? </li>
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<div id="CznQJi"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" scrolling="no" src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=VMP8769410584" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<p id="5SIS3A">You can also listen and subscribe on the following platforms:</p>
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https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/11/23/21590117/across-the-romaverse-podcast-episode-12-roma-vs-parma-recapssciavillo2020-11-23T15:00:00+01:002020-11-23T15:00:00+01:00Sinners & Saints: Roma 3, Parma 0
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<img alt="AS Roma v Parma Calcio - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UkCIRVDqMqpJVwO59m5Xk4eFfdk=/0x0:2856x1904/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67845656/1229732377.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Another blowout means another saintly review. </p> <p id="fQ7QLW">If you remove the administrative debacle against <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/hellas-verona">Hellas Verona</a>, the one in which Amadou Diawara was incorrectly listed as a youth player resulting in Roma's 1-1 draw becoming a 3-0 defeat, then the Giallorossi stand alongside league-leading <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com">AC Milan</a>, traditional powerhouse <a href="https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com">Juventus</a> and upstart <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/sassuolo">Sassuolo</a> as the only unbeaten teams in the league. Losing a point on the table due to a clerical error that provided no benefit on the pitch is a bitter pill to swallow (doubly so now that the man in charge of such errors took a job with Verona), but it hasn't slowed Roma down one bit.</p>
<p id="Nqt6kI">By dispatching the now 17th place Crusaders of Parma yesterday afternoon, Roma pushed their winning streak to four consecutive matches and seven wins in their last nine, with the only blemishes being a scoreless draw against CSKA Sofia in the Europa League and a 3-3 tie against <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com/">AC Milan</a> in late October.</p>
<p id="WcJjCr">No matter how you dissect it, the Giallorossi are one of the hottest teams in the league, if not Europe entirely.</p>
<p id="m2nhz7">Roma ran roughshod over Parma yesterday and could have easily ran the scoreline to 5-0 if they caught a few more breaks, so today's review will be all halos.</p>
<h2 id="jKfOpv">The Saints</h2>
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<img alt="AS Roma v Parma Calcio - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zq1KQGoQ5rPqEuDzV59eOrlo694=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22066968/1229737075.jpg">
<cite>Photo by MB Media/Getty Images</cite>
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<h3 id="Gu2IJ1">Henrikh Mkhitaryan</h3>
<p id="I1RiR2">Ol’ number 77 is quickly becoming a mainstay in these pieces, and for good reason. With five goals in league play, Mkhitaryan is tied for fifth in the league while his four assists are tops in Serie A. Bundle that all together and Mkhitaryan emerges as perhaps <em>the </em>most dynamic player in the league through eight matches—and yesterday was certainly no exception.</p>
<p id="Iqc1ii">In 90 minutes, Mkhitaryan bagged two goals on five shots, chipped in two key passes, pulled off one successful dribble, one tackle, one interception, one clearance and hit on two of three longballs while completing 88% of all his passes. </p>
<p id="xnBqix">There isn't much else we can say at this point; Mkhitaryan is perhaps the classiest and most skilled attacking player the club has seen since Miralem Pjanic was hitting his stride a few years ago.</p>
<p id="kqLibN">He's pretty much indispensable at this point, so it will be interesting to see where and when Paulo Fonseca chooses to rest him.</p>
<h3 id="VKvf4y">Gonzalo Villar</h3>
<p id="4x1KMl">We inadvertently left <em>numero catorce</em> off our man of the match poll yesterday, but Roma's young midfield metronome was fantastic in 90 minutes against Parma. Villar took a match high 105 touches, completed 93% of his passes (including 2-2 on longballs), pulled off six successful dribbles, won 11 of 14 ground duels and just check out this heatmap:</p>
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<cite>WhoScored</cite>
<figcaption>Villar heatmap vs. Parma</figcaption>
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<p id="qzfqEh">You don't often see such a dramatic heatmap, but it speaks volumes to Villar's performance yesterday; he made the midfield his own, controlling the tempo of play, spraying passes into attacking areas (a match high 14 into the final third. Parma had 19 as an entire team) and doing well to stymy <a href="https://www.crusaderschorus.com/">Parma's</a> few counter-attacking attempts.</p>
<p id="kBM9Og">It's still so hard to believe this kid was toiling away in the Spanish segunda last year. He's a remarkable talent and plays with a level of poise and intelligence that belies his young age.</p>
<h3 id="XTbyZJ">Borja Mayoral</h3>
<p id="C9qnoG">Borja did a lot of nice things yesterday, but his work with Leonardo Spinazzola on Roma's opening goal was emblematic of the type of striker we <em>think </em>he may become: intuitive, sneaky and clinical.</p>
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<p id="xU0Ovd">I'm not sure how many of us caught this during the run of play, but watch what Mayoral does the minute Spinazzola starts to cut it: HE LITERALLY TELLS SPINAZZOLA WHERE TO PLAY THE BALL!!</p>
<p id="m48ieR">Taking away nothing from Spinazzola, but that's incredibly impressive from Mayoral. To call out when and where he wants a ball from a player infinitely more experienced (and let's face it, better) than he is takes some <em>cajones</em>, but thankfully Mayoral's finishing matched his reading of the play. </p>
<p id="FbEknd">That was the lone highlight (obviously) from Mayoral yesterday, but he otherwise turned in a solid performance: two shots, one key pass, two dribbles and 36 touches in 64 minutes. </p>
<h3 id="5zfT6s">Leonardo Spinazzola</h3>
<p id="Aiqwnk">In addition to his stellar assist on Mayoral's goal, Spinazzola's 2020 resurgence continued yesterday. Going the full 90, Spinazzola was sublime against Parma: 78 touches, 89% passing, one shot, one key pass, one dribble, and four accurate long balls (out of eight). </p>
<p id="CPhT4H">With Riccardo Calafiori finally healthy, Spinazzola should get some much needed rest in the days and weeks ahead, but he's going toe-to-toe with Milan's Theo Hernandez as Serie A's top left-back through the first two months of the season. </p>
<h3 id="7hO3rc">Rick Karsdorp</h3>
<p id="AOVfPB">We'll end our list with Roma's other wingback, the oft-maligned Karsdorp, who, for the first time since signing with Roma three years ago, played consecutive 90 minute matches. Against Parma, Karsdorp completed 89% of his passes, chipped in three key passes, one assist and intercepted three balls in the defensive third.</p>
<p id="fHua69">Simply staying in Rome and getting significant playing time was a victory in and of itself for the 25-year-old Dutchman, but Karsdorp is proving to be so much more than a warm body. He'll likely always have issues with consistency, but Roma are riding the hot hand right now with Karsdorp, who has managed to relegate Bruno Peres to second choice through eight rounds of play.</p>
<p id="S3eJnT">So, what do you think: did we miss anyone? </p>
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https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/11/23/21590505/roma-3-parma-0-player-ratingsbren2020-11-22T19:30:00+01:002020-11-22T19:30:00+01:00Highlights of Roma's 3-0 Rout Over Parma
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<img alt="AS Roma v Parma Calcio - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gomIXUvy0r58dlaWsVp45K_ny-s=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67842640/1229732616.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Another beautiful display of Fonseca Football®</p> <p id="djid32">As you may have noticed from our lack of pre-match chatter on Twitter, I was a bit late waking up today and put together our match thread in the thick of a Sunday morning brain fog. While it would have been great from a narrative perspective to say something like “and Roma were equally drowsy on the pitch” that wasn't the case; they were fast, focused and clinical for all 90 minutes today, ruining <a href="https://www.crusaderschorus.com/">Parma's</a> afternoon as quickly as they destroyed my otherwise tidy narrative.</p>
<p id="RgnC8A">That Parma were even able to stave off Roma's advances for as long as they did was a miracle, but once Borja Mayoral found the back of the net in the 28th minute, the rout was on. Henrikh Mkhitaryan followed up the young Spaniard's goal four minutes later with a thunderous strike from distance before adding a second in the 40th minute to put the match to bed.</p>
<p id="o9VkQl">And while they very nearly added a fourth goal (multiple times in fact), that was all she wrote. By waxing Parma 3-0, Roma pushed their winning streak to four straight matches, six victories in their last nine and remain undefeated in matches that were actually decided on the pitch.</p>
<p id="5IRizb">Roma are rolling at the moment, so feast your eyes on their latest masterclass:</p>
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https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/11/22/21589879/roma-3-parma-0-highlightsbren2020-11-22T17:15:53+01:002020-11-22T17:15:53+01:00Roma Rout Parma 3-0 Behind Mayoral Goal and Mkhitaryan Brace
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<img alt="AS Roma v Parma Calcio - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ke1hNWC27DjkYCyPDJRjTGsfssE=/1x0:3000x1999/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67842192/1229732737.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Roma reeled off another dominant performance today, dispatching Parma with ease in a 3-0 drubbing. </p> <p id="HH3Jgx">There was a time when 9 a.m. and even 6 a.m. kick-offs were the norm for us east coast Serie A fans, but it seems as though the league's increased international television exposure has caused those earlier kickoff times to go the way of the Dodo bird. But not today. Today <em>was </em>a 9 a.m. kickoff time, but just don't tell that to...well, me. Waking up at approximately 8:46 a.m., I was jolted out of bed with the sinking suspicion that I was forgetting something—the match!</p>
<p id="wR91tB">Not only the match, but I forgot to put up our usual How To Watch piece, so you could imagine how out of sorts I felt as I was struggling to make my morning latte while hearing the Serie A anthem. And, as a result, my hands were a bit shaky and I let the milk picture dip all the way below the nozzle of the steam wand, resulting in tepid milk being blown all over my counter.</p>
<p id="UDtBY7">So...yeah, that was my Sunday morning. How was yours?</p>
<p id="SpBnMI">Fortunately, Roma suffered from no such morning sluggishness, putting this match beyond all doubt before that hastily prepared caffeine had a chance to awaken me from my Sunday morning slumber.</p>
<p id="6sr9BX">Parma actually did quite well through the opening 20 minutes or so of this match. Perfectly content to sit back in defense and absorb Roma's blows, the Crusaders flexed their counter attacking muscles through the wiry legs of Gervinho and Roberto Inglese, both of whom found space behind Roma's defensive line multiple times in the early moments of this match, but thanks to a few offside calls and <span>Antonio Mirante's</span> aggression, <a href="https://www.crusaderschorus.com/">Parma's</a> counter-attacking tactics went for naught.</p>
<p id="mquSkW">While Roma were dominating possession, they were foiled by Parma's low block defense, but, in keeping with his stellar form this season, Leonardo Spinazzola played the role of locksmith, breaking down Parma's defense with a cutting run and a brilliant pass to give Roma the lead.</p>
<h3 id="xjgw4c">Borja Mayoral: 28th Minute (Roma 1, Parma 0)</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Borja Mayoral scores for The Roma Project™️ but WHAT a ball this is from Spinazzola <a href="https://t.co/qPnuMjcs1J">https://t.co/qPnuMjcs1J</a></p>— Ranks FC (@RankSquad) <a href="https://twitter.com/RankSquad/status/1330519758039609344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="3qoP4S">Borja Mayoral was pretty much invisible to this point in the match, but he did a great job finishing off this sequence. Watch as Spinazzola drags the defense to his right before slipping a beautiful through ball to his left, matching the cutting run of Mayoral. <em>This </em>is football. <em>This </em>is the beautiful game. This play was so succinct, so well-timed and so perfectly executed that I doubt they could have done this any better on the training ground. Brilliant play from Spinazzola and Mayoral here. </p>
<p id="ywh6mu">Roma would double Parma's misery four minutes later...</p>
<h3 id="gchicp">Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 32nd Minute (Roma 2, Parma 0)</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a strike from Henrikh Mkhitaryan <a href="https://t.co/8jKjSXNiup">pic.twitter.com/8jKjSXNiup</a></p>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1330539984273760263?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="DUArEy">Spinazzola and Mayoral nearly combined to double Roma's lead in the 32nd minute, but their well diagramed play quickly became a moment of chaos. First off, fantastic work by Spinazzola to give the slightest body feint as he was receiving the ball, giving the Parma defender just enough pause to think that perhaps Spinazzola was going backwards. But then Spinazzola exploited the space in front of him, cutting in slightly and finding Mayoral at the edge of the area.</p>
<p id="zpOs0O">And with Mayoral fouled as soon as he was receiving the ball, this play could have easily been blown dead by the official, so kudos to him for playing the advantage, and great work by Mkhitaryan to not give up on the play. With Mayoral literally falling to the pitch and the ball lingering in the air, Mkhitaryan caught it on the bounce and fired it past the keeper.</p>
<p id="9Y0lrm">What was nearly a perfectly orchestrated sequence between Spinazzola and Mayoral quickly became a read and react play by Mkhitaryan, who did well not to give up on the play.</p>
<p id="zEoLmk">But he wasn't done yet...</p>
<h3 id="cJmE9z">Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 40th Minute (Roma 3, Parma 0)</h3>
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<p lang="in" dir="ltr">Mkhitaryan scores his second goal. <br> <a href="https://t.co/iy4PwM9Oga">pic.twitter.com/iy4PwM9Oga</a></p>— Dee (@Dee_FTTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dee_FTTV/status/1330525139843342343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="yIwYfm">Talk about a great cross. Rick Karsdorp hit this like an iron shot on the fairway: low, fast and accurate; he somehow kept the ball about three feet off the ground but played it fast enough and with enough swerve that no defender could turn it away, leaving Mhkitaryan with a gimme tap-in at the far post. </p>
<p id="pTjhGS">And that was that: Roma weren't really <em>that </em>frustrated by Parma's tactics and showed tremendous patience and persistence to break down the low-block before building up a 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes or so of the half.</p>
<h2 id="u3uOvW">Second Half</h2>
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<img alt="AS Roma v Parma Calcio - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mMWqFYKmqOajCY15BxIZBIJc3p8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22066142/1229732616.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="Cn2Muy">Roma continued their bullish performance over Parma in the second half, nearly pushing the lead to four-nil multiple times in the first 10 to 15 minutes of the half with Pedro and Jordan Veretout coming particularly close only to see their shots sail just wide, while Mkhitaryan continued to hunt for this second hattrick of the season.</p>
<p id="e0sBrc">There isn't really much need for analysis here: Roma had Parma under their thumb from the word go and didn't relent for the ensuing 89 minutes. The only real spot of bother we saw was Roger Ibañez picking up a minor knock early in the half, making way for <span>Juan Jesus</span>.</p>
<p id="rao4FE">Fonseca's second substitution would see Mayoral make way for Carles Pérez in the 65th minute. He'd follow that up with a late triple swap, as Lorenzo Pellegrini, Amadou Diawara and Bruno Peres all came on in the 80th minute. It would have been nice to see one of the Primavera kids get some minutes, but Pellegrini and Diawara were both returning from bouts of COVID and probably needed some live action before a difficult set of fixtures next week.</p>
<p id="gpXeb9">But thanks to their 3-0 lead, the second half of this match was largely academic, though you wouldn't have guessed it from Roma's effort: they continued to control the tempo of the game and had multiple chances deep in the match to increase their lead even further. </p>
<p id="kan1DD">While it would have been nice to see Fonseca empty the bench with some Primavera kids, Roma continued their fine form today, making quick work of a decidedly inferior opponent and furthering their claim for a top four spot.</p>
<h2 id="5Ducsq">Final Thoughts</h2>
<p id="UIgTXZ">Today's victory pushes Roma's point total to 17 through eight matches, good enough for a temporary grasp on second place, behind league-leading <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/sassuolo">Sassuolo</a> (yup, you read that correctly). And depending on how this evening's tit between <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com">AC Milan</a> and <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a> turns out, Roma could retain a share of second place but should, at worst, settle into third place (or tied for fourth) at the conclusion of round eight.</p>
<p id="bonSXo">You have to consider the level of the opponent here—Parma were in 15th place after all—but Paulo Fonseca's men played to perfection today: the passing was crisp, the chances were finished and the defense was swift and decisive.</p>
<p id="gybRYv">Roma's stadium dreams remain a nightmarish hell-scape of bureaucratic red-tape and kickbacks, but nearly everything else in the organization is trending upwards at the moment. With six wins in their last nine fixtures in all competitions, the Giallorossi are among the hottest teams in the league and look like legitimate contenders to finish in the top four. And given how wide open the table seems this season, perhaps they can dream just <em>a bit</em> higher than that.</p>
<p id="2QRKAb">Bask in today's victory because it's back to reality this coming week <a href="https://www.chiesaditotti.com">as Roma</a> travel to Romania to take on Cluj before they head south to Napoli next Sunday for a critical domestic fixture.</p>
<h2 id="tCbFmx">Up Next</h2>
<p id="xfhQEx">Roma face Cluj in the Europa League on Thursday the 26th of November.</p>
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https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/11/22/21589697/roma-parma-match-reviewbren2020-11-22T14:49:01+01:002020-11-22T14:49:01+01:00Roma vs. Parma: Lineups & Game Thread
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<img alt="Udinese Calcio v AS Roma - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aqhMR1yTuDzXGdLyvbyJlKwiSsE=/18x0:4532x3009/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67841722/1278307308.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Serie A, Week 8.</p> <div id="lfJTia">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> <br> <br>The team is in - here is how we line up today against Parma! <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASRoma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ASRoma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RomaParma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RomaParma</a> <a href="https://t.co/iivCmDB2Cl">pic.twitter.com/iivCmDB2Cl</a></p>— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASRomaEN/status/1330497046999076869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2020</a>
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https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/11/22/21589681/roma-vs-parma-lineups-game-threadbren2020-11-21T21:00:00+01:002020-11-21T21:00:00+01:00Džeko-Less Giallorossi Take On Relegation-Battling Parma
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<img alt="AS Roma v Parma Calcio - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ayULS483lqJnDRruPcDWmNTx0hc=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67839863/1255952717.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Will Gervinho find form against his former club?</p> <p id="wBoZD6">The Giallorossi are still missing several key players as they head out of the international break; Edin Džeko, Max Kumbulla, and <span>Chris Smalling</span> are all out of the squad, with Džeko and Kumbulla still waiting to test negative for coronavirus. Fortunately, these key absences are coming at a relatively easy part of Roma’s schedule, with Fonseca’s men playing against CFR Cluj in the Europa League on Thanksgiving after tomorrow’s match versus <em>I Crociati</em>. With that, here are a few reasons to pay attention to match day eight:</p>
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<p id="vqce3N"><strong>Roma vs. Parma:</strong> November 22nd. 15:00 CET/9:00 EST. Stadio Olimpico, Roma.</p>
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<h2 id="CYUeij">What To Watch For</h2>
<h3 id="anpV70">Will The Real Borja Mayoral Please Stand Up?</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Genoa CFC v AS Roma - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JXQk12wYZ5uIrcA0BIlq6zX69Zw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22064711/1229532030.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="qvmYbs">Mayoral has had a very up and down start to his time with the Giallorossi. His starts in the Europa League have been largely productive, scoring two goals in three appearances, but any time he’s appeared in Serie A, it’s been quite the disappointment. Mayoral isn’t intended to be a like-for-like replacement of Edin Džeko, but the way he’s disappeared against non-EL opponents, often appearing to be a black hole at the front of Roma’s attack, is discouraging. </p>
<p id="h13p5G">Because of Džeko’s battle with COVID-19, though, Paulo Fonseca has essentially been forced to give Mayoral more time to get used to Serie A, and at his pre-match press conference, the Portuguese manager confirmed that Mayoral would get another start against the <em>I Crociati.</em> <a href="https://www.crusaderschorus.com/">Parma</a> aren’t exactly the most frightening opposition Roma will face on the peninsula this season, but they’re certainly better than some of the clubs the Giallorossi have faced in the Europa League group stages. If Mayoral wants to prove that he belongs in Rome on a full-time basis, scoring against Parma would be a step in the right direction.</p>
<h3 id="YZimKu">Does Juan Get Back Into The Squad?</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="AS Roma v CSKA Sofia - UEFA Europa League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nt9brBxHUH5v8TrS2CTcdoUfZrA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22064712/1229355415.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="YNWQIS">Although Džeko’s absence from Roma’s squad versus Parma is obviously the biggest loss, the sheer concentration of senior squad center-backs who are out of commission right now arguably presents a bigger depth problem for Paulo Fonseca. Kumbulla and Smalling are probably irreplaceable for Roma’s style of play, and with Federico Fazio not called up, Roma is quite threadbare in the defense.</p>
<aside id="R7kLyu"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Probable Formations: Roma vs Parma","url":"https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/11/21/21588519/probable-formations-roma-vs-parma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="U10a9i">It’s quite a good thing that this lack of depth is showing up versus the likes of Parma, if only because defending against Gervinho isn’t quite the same challenge as defending against Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, or Romelu Lukaku. All these missing defenders will likely mean that <span>Juan Jesus</span> will take the pitch tomorrow, something I didn’t really see happening for him again in a Giallorossi kit. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how well (or how poorly) he plays against Parma, but despite the relatively small stature of the opponents, Jesus, like Mayoral, must show that he could still belong in Rome with success against <em>I Gialloblu</em>. His leash is probably much shorter than Mayoral’s, though; unless he plays a perfect game, the Roma bigwigs will probably still keep looking to terminate his contact.</p>
<h3 id="GNkRHM">Put The Promising Primavera Players On The Pitch, Paulo</h3>
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<img alt="Ascoli Calcio U19 v AS Roma U19 - Primavera 1" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7WYmZgWibV1fefFrjYtL7KB08Xk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22064715/1273449153.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="YARvMA">Normally, this kind of match (against a relatively small club, right after the international break, before a mid-week EL matchup) would be a chance for Paulo Fonseca to rotate or even play some of the kids. Roma’s current injury situation is probably going to force his hand there a bit, with Gonzalo Villar and Borja Mayoral confirmed to be starting tomorrow. Nevertheless, Romanisti should still be crossing their fingers about maybe seeing one or two Primavera players take the field at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow. Ruben Providence, Riccardo Calafiori, and Israeli striker Suf Podgoreanu have all been called up by Fonseca for tomorrow’s match, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Paulo use his subs to give one of these guys a taste of senior football.</p>
<aside id="VufGje"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Roma Extends New Deals For Primavera Trio","url":"https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/11/19/21575189/roma-extends-new-deals-for-primavera-trio"}]}'></div></aside><p id="90QuNB">Roma has handed out a flurry of renewals to players like Ruben Providence, Nicola Zalewski, and Riccardo Ciervo, and a renewal for Riccardo Calafiori is also likely in the near future. Although some of these renewals are just covering all the bases in the event that any of these players becomes a serviceable Serie A player, you have to imagine that signing these players to long-term deals will make Fonseca feel more comfortable with giving them a chance with the big boys. Who knows, maybe Roma’s solution at striker in a post-Edin Džeko world is already on the payroll?</p>
<div id="MStDl2"><div data-anthem-component="poll:9601000"></div></div>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/11/21/21588573/as-roma-parma-match-previewJimmy Miotto2020-11-21T17:24:54+01:002020-11-21T17:24:54+01:00Probable Formations: Roma vs Parma
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<img alt="Gonzalo Villar of As Roma during the Serie A match between..." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3YxqFo759x7Q9D9G8RWKDk1U1dk=/1517x0:3936x1613/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67839261/1229550518.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Roma will be short-handed in its first match back from the international break. </p> <p id="CLuhk7">It’s been two weeks since we’ve seen Roma play a match and while nobody was injured over the international break, COVID-19 has taken its toll on the Giallorossi roster. The 2020-21 season always had the makings of a war of attrition thanks to the indiscriminate nature of the virus and Roma is certainly in a lean period right now. Every team in Serie A and Europe is dealing with virus related absences, but the Giallorossi have been hit particularly hard of late. </p>
<p id="1Y2UF1">Of course, Amadou Diawara and Riccardo Calafiori were the first to be struck. Those two are finally back on a match day roster after about a month in recovery. Meanwhile, Lorenzo Pellegrini was able to bounce back more quickly and has recovered in less than a fortnight. However, none of those three are fit enough to start this match. While that trio has recuperated, Edin Dzeko, Max Kumbulla, Federico Fazio, and <span>Davide Santon</span> are all still recovering. </p>
<p id="AEm3OF">Added to that quintet of virus related absences is another big blow: Chris Smalling remains out after dealing with food poisoning over the last few days. Throw in long term absentees Nicolò Zaniolo and Javier Pastore and Roma is down eight first team players. On the injury front it’s not all bad news though as <span>Antonio Mirante</span>, Leonardo Spinazzola and Carles Perez have recovered from minor ailments. They along with Pellegrini have made the match day roster, which is full of Primavera names to fill in for the absences. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | SQUAD LIST<br> <br>Here are the players available for tomorrow's Serie A meeting with Parma...<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASRoma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ASRoma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RomaParma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RomaParma</a> <a href="https://t.co/80hryf9nlk">pic.twitter.com/80hryf9nlk</a></p>— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASRomaEN/status/1330149830631583749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2020</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="HLNgPd">After digesting all of that we can try and predict who will feature for Roma tomorrow. With Kumbulla, Smalling, and Fazio all out there is a chance that Paulo Fonseca returns to a four man back line. However, I think it’s more likely he starts with the 3-4-2-1 that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing. If he does, Bryan Cristante will center Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibañez and the formation can morph into more of a four man back line in game like we saw against Benevento. Starting in goal behind that trio will be Antonio Mirante after he missed out on the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/genoa">Genoa</a> match. </p>
<p id="TL1H6Q">Moving up the pitch, we should see Rick Karsdorp and Leonardo Spinazzola starting on the wings. Meanwhile, with Pellegrini not fit enough to start, Fonseca confirmed that Gonzalo Villar would start next to Jordan Veretout in the midfield. </p>
<p id="QE7iFf">There is optimism for Dzeko to return for next weekend’s match against <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a>, but with him absent again this week, Borja Mayoral will lead the line. Fonseca made that known in his Saturday press conference. He will be supported by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pedro. </p>
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<aside id="Q5qbS0"><q>Fonseca: “Mkhitaryan played really well as a centre-forward last time out, but tomorrow Borja Mayoral will start in that role.”</q></aside> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Mi4bsEA5NtRH6oOuPfOEjfS4Z70=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22064586/lineup_7_.png">
<figcaption>CDT Projected XI vs Parma</figcaption>
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https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/11/21/21588519/probable-formations-roma-vs-parmassciavillo