Roma report cards – Pellegrini is almost magic. Abraham does not engrave, male Vina
Final result: Cagliari 1-2 Rome
Rui Patrick 7 – Shivers on Bellanova’s torpedo, which fortunately is printed on the crossing. In the resumption he sells in the chair and makes two miraculous interventions, especially the one on Pavoletti just before the 1-1.
Karsdorp 6.5 – Very physical duel with Lykogiannis. He works well in both phases, he gives a big hand to the team in search of a comeback.
Mancini 6 – The game does not take off, but the indications for Roma come from the defense. After the collapse in Norway the owners are back and the difference can be seen: zero goals against Napoli, a random one tonight.
Ibanez 6 – Same goes for the ward mate. Pavoletti is a difficult client: in the first half he contains him, in the second half he loses him and is immediately punished. He redeems himself with the equalizer.
Vina 5 – He pushes into the left-handed lane but Bellanova is lost after 8 ‘and Roma risks going immediately under. As the minutes pass, he grows and often proposes to cross. In the second half it is his mistake that leads to Pavoletti’s goal. And Mourinho punishes him. From 57 ‘ Afena-Gyan 6.5 – He almost never shoots on goal but his entrance gives the shock. Not by reference points for home defense, it is a factor.
Cristante 6 – He puts order in the middle of the field, he is dangerous on an inactive ball. Central third, midfielder, added attacker, is indispensable for Mourinho.
Veretout 5.5 – A lot of movement, many balls touched but always in the field area where it cannot create dangers for the home rearguard. From 91 ‘Kumbulla sv
Zaniolo 6.5 – He often goes on his own, stubbornly. He wants to score and yes, the doublings on him are never constant and he can’t find space to call. He touches the net only once, in the second half: his header goes off to the side of a breath. From 81 ‘Calafiori sv
Pilgrims 7.5 – He is the only one to move between the lines and give references to teammates. In the first half, however, he fails to be incisive, in the first he hits a sensational crossing, then draws which decides the challenge having served the assist to Ibanez.
Mkhitaryan 5.5 – A distant relative of the player admired a year ago. He is appreciated at least for the spirit of sacrifice, he is good at recovering a couple of turnovers on the trocar. But it is too little and in fact it is replaced at the interval (perhaps also for a physical problem). From 46 ‘ El Shaarawy 6 – Slowly he is finding the best condition. He tries “to Djorkaeff”, with no luck, he is useful in the comeback.
Abraham 5.5 – Roma lack goals from the center forward, but against such well-organized defenses for a player with his characteristics it is difficult to hit. Very few chances, the defenders control him well.
Joao Sacramento (José Mourinho suspended) 6 – In constant contact with him A special, try to control a team that seems to have lost the lightheartedness and enthusiasm that the beginning has characterized this season. Now Roma are struggling, they are unable to speed up and put pressure on even an opponent who is not exactly impossible like the bottom team in the standings. At the end three points of character arrive, in comeback. A reaction that bodes well, but there are many things to fix.