There’s always talking points in these type of games, isn’t there?
It’s a shame Roma’s blistering and uncharacteristic start was shadowed by a refereeing decision (of course). Of course I have to praise the Giallorossi first, Rudi Garcia’s men didn’t seem to be the timid and frightened Roma that we saw in big games last season. Maybe it was the electrifying Stadio Olimpico crowd before kick-off, but Roma seemed to want to fight and beat Juventus, a match which needed to produce a win in order to kick start Roma’s title hopes.
Juventus’ midfield seemed non-existent in the early stages as Roma won the ball back and pressed with intensity from the first blow of the whistle. In typical Roma fashion, though. The Giallorossi couldn’t capitalise on their dominance as the closest either team went was Bosnian playmaker and all around God, Miralem Pjanić hit the post as Gianluigi Buffon was hopeless.
The main talking point of the first half was Giorgio Chiellini. Go figure. The Italian defender left Roma players and fans alike fuming after taking Pjanić from behind and failing to get the ball. No card was produced but just a few minutes later Chiellini crunched Pjanić once again and was awarded a yellow card. It’s debatable that either of these tackles could’ve been a red card, but hey, I have to stay impartial.
HT: AS Roma 0 Juventus 0
The first fifteen minutes of the second half were just as lacklustre as the first. As Calcio looks to capture the imagination of an American audience, this clash of two Italian giants would be gaining no viewers as the match went on.
However, the beautiful thing about football, is that magic can happen at any minute.
If anyone tuned out, they missed out. As I said, Bosnian playmaker and all around God, Miralem Pjanić produced a beautiful free kick which dipped over the Juventus wall and once again, left Buffon stranded. Except this time, it hit the back of the net.
As Roma 1 – Juventus 0 (Pjanic 60)
It was presumably Buffon’s death stare after the free kick that meant the Bianconeri finally kicked their arses into gear. The Juventus midfield pressed forward and actually looked to score, the kind of mentality that’s won Juventus four titles in a row. But alas, there was Tevez, no Pirlo, no Vidal. Juventus simply never looked like scoring and Dybala’s free kick that sailed over the bar after a Daniele De Rossi handball on the edge of the area really summed up the Bianconeri’s day.
It would go from bad to worse as Juan Iturbe (Yes, the €30m guy!) started a mazy dribble in midfield and was clipped by Patrice Evra, who was already on a yellow card. Yep, the Frenchman received a second yellow card and was given his marching orders in the 77th minute. It was about to get desperate for the Bianconeri.
It was only a minute later that Roma newboys Iago Falque and Edin Dzeko linked up in the penalty area, as Iago Falque clipped a ball in the air after being cornered in the penalty area, Edin Dzeko wrestled with Giorgio Chiellini, a wrestling match most players don’t win and headed past Buffon for Roma’s second.
Juventus in their history have never lost their opening two games, and they were will on their way to breaking that record.
AS Roma 2 – Juventus 0 (Pjanic 60, Dzeko 78)
But hey! This is Roma we’re talking about. Ten man Juventus still managed to give Roma fans heart palpitations. Roberto Pereyra burst into the box and placed a pass across the goal for Argentine Paulo Dybala who tapped in calmly to give Juventini a glimmer of hope.
AS Roma 2 – Juventus 1 (Pjanic 60, Dzeko 78 – Dybala 86)
And of course, Juventus introduced yet more heart aches amongst those in the Stadio Olimpico as Leonardo Bonucci headed the ball into the ground which bounced awkwardly and it was only a fantastic save from on loan goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who clawed the ball away for a corner that saved Roma’s bacon.
And that’s all she wrote.
FT: AS Roma 2 – Juventus 1 (Pjanic 60, Dzeko 78 – Dybala 86)
Talking points
Games are won in midfield.
One of the biggest cliches in football, but cliches are mostly true. Roma had the advantage in the midfield from the word ‘go’. Nainggolan and Keita’s pressing was relentless as always, and Pjanić did a lot to dismiss those who label him a ‘luxury player’ with his tireless running. I will account for Juventus’ absentees in Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira, but Juventus’ midfield look flat and uninspiring from the word go. It was total domination from Roma, who seemed to be winning the ever crucial psychological midfield battle from the start.
Even with possession, Juventus did little with it. Sturaro rarely made himself available for the extra pass to help out a teammate and Paul Pogba, who’s being tipped for a world class season, didn’t exactly exert excellence. Such low standards could be passed off at other clubs, but Juventus demands excellence, and it’s a shame to see Stefano Sturaro not stepping up considering his obvious talents. As for Pogba, if he wants to warrant these extortionate price tags, a game of this magnitude should be one he’s thriving in. As for Padoin, I can’t expect much from a rotation player at best.
Mohamed Salah is who Roma thought Juan Iturbe was.
The Mohamed Salah loan with an option to buy pretty much sealed that Roma were going to admit they got it wrong with Argentine Juan Iturbe (whom they bought for €30m from Hellas Verona last summer). Iturbe will have potential buyers considering that fantastic 13/14 season, but if Salah showcases what he did today throughout the season, then Roma will most definitely not hesitate in purchasing the Egyptian.
Poor old Patrice Evra. He’s getting on, isn’t he? The 34 year old is no longer the lockdown left back he once was. I’ll be the first to admit he was ever present for Juventus last season, but some player declines can happen in a flash. The Frenchman looked like he could barely keep up with Salah’s pace and constant drifting inside.
With a player who plays on the wing of his ‘wrong’ foot, or an inverted winger if you want to call him that. You’ll find him constantly drifting in, which leads to player confusion. As Salah drifts inwards from the right wing, and is essentially playing off of Dzeko, who picks him up? Does Evra abandon his position and pick him man to man, what about Florenzi then? Chiellini and Bonucci were already dealing with the handful which is Edin Dzeko. This gives Mohamed Salah great freedom and acres of space. It’s also so important for him to play on the same side as Miralem Pjanić, who can spray those balls in between the defense and midfield so Salah can make runs.
Build from the back!
Manolas and Florenzi, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. Manolas to Florenzi was Roma’s second most common pass combination, showing how much Patrice Evra was taken advantage of, and how important it was to get the ball to Salah and stretch that weak Juventus midfield.
Building from the back is one of my favourite things in football, no, really. It embodies one of my favourite all-time manager’s philosophies in Rinus Michels. Building from deep takes advantage of space, the second most important part of football. Roma’s control of the game was illustrated through how easily they built from the back. Dybala and Mandzukic are more than capable of intense pressing but Manolas and De Rossi were having one of those games where every pass they played just had that delicious zip on it.
De Rossi and Manolas really were so important in distributing to the wings, Juventus’ weak point today, something which cannot be said very often over the past few months. I suspect it won’t be long until Alex Sandro replaces Patrice Evra in the starting XI, as for Lichsteiner’s position, Cuadrado looked poor and uninspiring, although I can hardly blame him considering he’s been rotting on the bench for the past six months.
A final word
Well, Juventus lose their first two games for the first time in their illustrious history. But seriously, guys. This is Juventus, the most successful Italian team of all-time who were close to the treble last season. There is little reason to panic. Juventini may be getting taunts that Juventus are in store for a run similar to Allegri’s in Milan before he was sacked. But I doubt it, this Juventus side has far too much quality.
As for Roma, good for them. The psychological boost of beating Juventus cannot be understated in a title race. Not all three points are won equally, but this is a huge six pointer if Roma and Juventus are neck and neck down the stretch come April. This Roma team really needed some belief installed in it, and beating the title holders in something that oozes belief.
Unfortunately, Roma and Juventus meet quite early on in 2016, the 24th of January, to be exact. This would be a scrumptious title decider come May, but I suppose we all can’t have what we want.
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