Roma Face Difficult Month Ahead
It would be hard to deny AS Roma the honor of playing the most exciting football in Europe thus far. An argument can be made that they are not playing the best football - look back at the last two results for proof - but at times their attacking is so overwhelming to the opposition I feel like I am witnessing the next Serie A champions.
The draws against Juventus and Fiorentina were huge disappointments. Had just one of those results given Roma full points they would have a bit of breathing room atop Serie A heading into the Saturday clash with reigning champions Inter Milan. Instead, there are questions being raised about the ability of this side to finish matches. They gave away the second goal in each of the past two matches with under 10 minutes to play. For a club with legitimate championship aspirations that is unacceptable and if the trend continues it will be their downfall.
That being said, the match this weekend is the biggest in Europe. Inter Milan were pre-season favorites to repeat, but they have come out flat this season and a dismal result in their first Champions League match has many wondering what kind of side Inter really are. Roma meanwhile were cruising until the Juventus and Fiorentina draws and a look at the next 7 matches reveals if they are to make a challenge for the Serie A title or will end up settling for a 2nd place finish and deep Champions League run.
To begin, the Inter match is going to be massive for them. Totti and Perrotta will be back in the lineup after being rested against Fiorentina. Totti is the best player in Europe right now. I don't doubt that for a second. Giuly has been every bit as outstanding many thought he would and with Mancini back in the fold coupled with Aquilani having a bust out season this attack is second to none.
But the following Tuesday, October 2 Roma must travel to Old Trafford and face Manchester United. While this is not a must win match in order to advance out of the group it will serve as a harsh reminder to last season's disasterous 7-1 thumping. Pressure will be there not to repeat that performance. More so than simply coming away with a point. On current form though I suspect Roma are the better side and could essentially lock up a knock out round appearance with a win at Old Trafford. The following weekend they face a tricky match at Parma before welcoming a very organized (and well supported) Napoli to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, October 21.
Just two days after Napoli they see Sporting Lisbon visit the Stadio Olimpico for a Champions League match. Depending on the outcome against Manchester United, this could very well end up the must win situation that Roma will be keen to avoid. Were Roma to suffer defeat in England, pressure will be immense to get 3 points. Sporting Lisbon could well be a spoiler in this group. A draw at home would cause mass panic.
On October 28 they must travel to AC Milan. Milan are not in good form, but that match is a month away and it will be a hotly contested fight. At this point I can assume everyone will be healthy and available, but honestly, it is easy to predict that there will be some injuries during this difficult stretch. Matches played at this level between such competitive sides always results in injury blows. On October 31 there is the Rome derby. Yes, that is correct. The month of October ends with Roma having to face Lazio mid-week following the AC Milan encounter.
There is no top club in Europe that must endure this difficult of a stretch of matches this early on in the season. If Roma come away from the Serie A matches with 10-12 points I think they will be very satisfied. Anything less and there could be problems in the Eternal City. If Roma grab more than 12 points I think they will march on to win Serie A. The talent is there and manager Luciano Spalletti seems to be the man with the plan to bring trophies to the club. If Roma manage 4 points or more from the two Champions League matches they should expect to be fighting for a top of the group finish.
There is no time for the Roma players (or supporters) to catch their breath over the next month. It will be grueling, exciting and very revealing about just how quality this side are.
The draws against Juventus and Fiorentina were huge disappointments. Had just one of those results given Roma full points they would have a bit of breathing room atop Serie A heading into the Saturday clash with reigning champions Inter Milan. Instead, there are questions being raised about the ability of this side to finish matches. They gave away the second goal in each of the past two matches with under 10 minutes to play. For a club with legitimate championship aspirations that is unacceptable and if the trend continues it will be their downfall.
That being said, the match this weekend is the biggest in Europe. Inter Milan were pre-season favorites to repeat, but they have come out flat this season and a dismal result in their first Champions League match has many wondering what kind of side Inter really are. Roma meanwhile were cruising until the Juventus and Fiorentina draws and a look at the next 7 matches reveals if they are to make a challenge for the Serie A title or will end up settling for a 2nd place finish and deep Champions League run.
To begin, the Inter match is going to be massive for them. Totti and Perrotta will be back in the lineup after being rested against Fiorentina. Totti is the best player in Europe right now. I don't doubt that for a second. Giuly has been every bit as outstanding many thought he would and with Mancini back in the fold coupled with Aquilani having a bust out season this attack is second to none.
But the following Tuesday, October 2 Roma must travel to Old Trafford and face Manchester United. While this is not a must win match in order to advance out of the group it will serve as a harsh reminder to last season's disasterous 7-1 thumping. Pressure will be there not to repeat that performance. More so than simply coming away with a point. On current form though I suspect Roma are the better side and could essentially lock up a knock out round appearance with a win at Old Trafford. The following weekend they face a tricky match at Parma before welcoming a very organized (and well supported) Napoli to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, October 21.
Just two days after Napoli they see Sporting Lisbon visit the Stadio Olimpico for a Champions League match. Depending on the outcome against Manchester United, this could very well end up the must win situation that Roma will be keen to avoid. Were Roma to suffer defeat in England, pressure will be immense to get 3 points. Sporting Lisbon could well be a spoiler in this group. A draw at home would cause mass panic.
On October 28 they must travel to AC Milan. Milan are not in good form, but that match is a month away and it will be a hotly contested fight. At this point I can assume everyone will be healthy and available, but honestly, it is easy to predict that there will be some injuries during this difficult stretch. Matches played at this level between such competitive sides always results in injury blows. On October 31 there is the Rome derby. Yes, that is correct. The month of October ends with Roma having to face Lazio mid-week following the AC Milan encounter.
There is no top club in Europe that must endure this difficult of a stretch of matches this early on in the season. If Roma come away from the Serie A matches with 10-12 points I think they will be very satisfied. Anything less and there could be problems in the Eternal City. If Roma grab more than 12 points I think they will march on to win Serie A. The talent is there and manager Luciano Spalletti seems to be the man with the plan to bring trophies to the club. If Roma manage 4 points or more from the two Champions League matches they should expect to be fighting for a top of the group finish.
There is no time for the Roma players (or supporters) to catch their breath over the next month. It will be grueling, exciting and very revealing about just how quality this side are.
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