Sinners & Saints: Roma 2, Hellas Verona 0

Yesterday’s two-nil win over Hellas Verona was one other celebration of firsts for Roma. For the primary time this season in league play, Roma scored a couple of objective. And with Artem Dovbyk discovering the again of the web within the seventh minute, the hulking Ukrainian ahead registered the primary objective by a striker this season.

Neither of those is a monumental prevalence, in fact, however they’re indicators of progress for an assault that has lacked punch through the first a number of weeks of the season. The child steps proven towards Good and Verona final week will repay later within the season when Roma hanging two or three objectives on an opponent is commonplace.

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Till then, let’s go out some halos in honor of the membership’s newest league win, one which places the Giallorossi in a three-way tie on the prime of the desk: AC Milan, Napoli and Roma are every on 12 factors as we head into Matchday 6 later this week.

The Saints

Mile Svilar

We normally save the keeper for final in our post-match summaries, however there’s no denying Mile Svilar, although he denies almost each shot he faces. With three saves, together with two within the field and one along with his face, Svilar was as soon as once more at his greatest, making essential interventions to protect Roma’s slim one-goal lead for many of the match. And never solely that, Svilar added one profitable deal with to his document.

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Artem Dovbyk

With Evan Ferguson drawing rave evaluations earlier within the season, Dovbyk was a forgotten man, albeit an costly one. Nevertheless, incomes his second begin of the week, Roma’s quantity 9 didn’t disappoint. Apart from his glorious hold-up play—being pressed 75% of the time he obtained the ball—Dovbyk’s Seventh-minute header was very good, as he directed it throughout the face of the objective, previous Lorenzo Montipo, and into the far nook.

Whereas Ferguson has finished the little issues effectively, his lack of objectives or just clear-cut possibilities might tip the scales in Dovbyk’s favor as we head into October.

Zeki Celik

This man simply continues to plug away, doesn’t he? Whereas he might by no means promote many kits, the Turkish defender has grow to be an integral element in a backline that has solely allowed one objective in 5 matches. In 90 minutes yesterday, Celik was reliable on the again however put in one among his greatest attacking performances this season, creating three key passes and offering the help on Dovbyk’s match-winner. And he did this whereas filling two roles towards Verona: beginning as a central defender earlier than shifting to his regular right-back place within the second half.

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Matías Soulé

It wanting like a reasonably quiet afternoon on the pitch for the younger Argentinian winger, who was annoyed by the Verona protection. However Soulé made a huge impact within the second half, scoring a 79th-minute objective that put the sport out of attain. There are additionally issues we are able to’t fairly measure, like his willingness to maintain pushing the ball ahead, monitor again, and be a goal for his teammates to facilitate give-and-gos.

He’ll have a lot brighter performances this season, however he confirmed endurance and maturity yesterday, protecting his head down till his second got here.

Gianluca Mancini & Evan Ndicka

We’ll group Roma’s two middle backs collectively right here as a result of they had been simply as necessary as Svilar in protecting one other clear sheet. The Italian and Ivorian internationals mixed for 22 defensive actions (Mancini had 17!), 14 duels gained, and 17 ball recoveries. Their passing wasn’t as sharp as regular, however they labored with Celik, Svilar, and Angeliño to close down the Verona assault and keep their standing because the league’s greatest protection.

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Provided that clear sheet and the easy reality they scored a couple of objective, we’ll stowaway the pitchforks as we speak and shine a light-weight on a couple of different noteworthy performances.

Caught In Between

Manufacturing Koné

The French midfielder continued to do Manu Koné issues yesterday, buzzing across the midfield, recycling and profitable the ball in midfield, and pushing it ahead to the likes of Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini. Along with finishing 90% of his passes, Koné gained 9 of fifteen duels, performed eight balls into the ultimate third, led Roma with 4 tackles, and coated 10 kilometers on the pitch.

Jan Ziółkowski

The younger, lanky Polish defender made his membership debut final evening, approaching within the 71st minute for Ndicka, who obtained a uncommon second-half relaxation on Sunday. Though he solely took 9 touches in 19 minutes, he appears to have a little bit of Dean Huijsen in his recreation, or a minimum of how he closes areas and makes use of his lengthy limbs to his benefit. He has an extended solution to go earlier than incomes real comparisons to a participant as gifted as Huijsen, however he caught my consideration yesterday afternoon and could possibly be an intriguing addition to the defensive rotation because the season progresses.