#4 Roma need more cover for Edin Dzeko
Trending
Serie A’s top scorer missed out through injury, but that wasn’t so much an issue. Spalletti’s response was to deploy Diego Perotti in a false nine role, just as Francesco Totti was in the coach’s first spell at the Stadio Olimpico, but he succeeded in living up to the pessimistic pre-match expectations.
Far too often, especially in the first half, he was cut off from the game completely. As well as the 27 goals he has scored this term, Dzeko has also provided a presence in attack to give Roma an option to get up the pitch quickly, and without that, Leonardo Bonucci’s job was unsurprisingly easy when it came to mopping up at the back.
But, further to the point of disconnect between Nainggolan and the attack, Perotti also failed to do the job that was expected of him and drop deep into midfield, receiving the ball to feet. That made it very tough for Roma to get a grip of the game after the first few minutes.
After the break, when Nainggolan became more involved, Mohamed Salah, who worked extremely hard all night, did the same. The Egyptian was able to use his pace to go up against Asamoah or get in behind Bonucci.
To have just one out and out striker as an option in the squad will always bring up limitations, and on another day that could have proved costly for Roma.
