Views: 6

AS Roma started their journey in the Europa League rather negatively, with 2 defeats in the first 3 games. However, their performance in the league is quite different.

The home defeat against Viktoria Plzen left a bitter taste, along with some perplexity. Gasperini’s team has struggled to get going in the Europa League and has lost both home games so far. There have been too many defensive mistakes, which once again have cost the Giallorossi dearly.

Against Lille, it was Tsimikas who made a naive error that led to the French goal, while in yesterday’s game, it was young Ziolkowski who made the mistake and was substituted by Gasperini after just half an hour. While the defense seems to be the strong point of this team in the league, they are making too many mistakes and lack precision in the Europa League.

Roma, a sterile attack

EVAN FERGUSON AND ARTEM DOVBYK (PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI)

Another rather evident problem, highlighted by the coach in the post-match interview, is the sterility of the attack. Apart from the Argentine Soulé, who has scored 3 goals in the league, the rest of the attack is struggling to perform.

Dovbyk and Ferguson seem out of place: two physically heavy players, rather clumsy with the ball at their feet, who are struggling to find the back of the net. The Ukrainian was booed off the Olimpico pitch yesterday, and every touch of the ball by the Irishman was met with loud grumbling from the entire stadium.

Dybala scored his first goal of the season from a penalty, but more is expected from him. Finally, Bailey is proving to be in form and able to make an impact, having come on in the last two games and igniting the Olimpico with his plays.

Gasperini must find a solution and hope to mentally recover his two strikers, who currently seem demoralized and disconnected from the team.