Roma-Cagliari 1-0 and Lecce.

I did not expect Cagliari to be so bold that it repeatedly tried the high pressure, in any case we were good at having our chances until we unlocked it with the penalty of Sergio Oliveira. Maggioni's decision and the execution of the Portuguese were flawless. Maggioni refereed impartially (not always obvious in Serie A, just think of Chiffi's refereeing in Milan-Roma 3-1), but in the first half he broke the game too much, making it seem like a game of water polo. . Let us remember that the goal is the fast tempo of play of the Premier and the referees must also collaborate in this.

Sergio Oliveira (benvienido!) was one of the best in the field. He is excellent in managing the score and the time, especially in the last minutes when he asked to keep the ball instead of looking for the goal. He was also excellent in recovering the ball. Roma had many opportunities to kill the game, but did not exploit them properly, also finding a very good Cragno (better of them). Then, as always happens in Roma's melodramas, Cagliari had the opportunity to equalize with a good cross from Zappa on which Joao Pedro found Rui and the crossbar. In general, the defensive phase was 99.9% perfect, with an excellent match from Mancini and Kumbulla (great). Maitland-Niles also played very well. Good debut for Keramitsis. We are at -7 from fourth place, which for our ambitions and our qualities, must be the target.

Now Cagliari will return to that beautiful city, with that wonderful sea. The only other sea that can hold its own is that of Salento and Lecce, the capital of Salento, the easternmost point of Italy (not everyone knows that Cagliari is further south than Lecce) will be our next opponent in the second round of the Italian Cup. Lecce is also a musical and cultural laboratory always on the move with Sud Sound System and Après la Classe who are the major representatives of Salento reggae. They combine the traditions of Salento with an open mind towards all ethnic groups and all cultures. As the Sud Sound System sing:se nu te scierri mai delle radici ca tieni, rispetti puru quiddre delli paisi lontani! (if you are tied to your roots, you also respect those of distant countries). If you have a tradition, a strong culture, you are not afraid of contamination.

The welcome towards migrants, typical of the Apulians and in particular of the Salento, that sense of brotherhood even with distant peoples historically belongs to the Roman Empire, the first regime to allow the practice of all religions. In this, Rome was more evolved than medieval Europe which closed the Jews in ghettos and made the crusades against the Muslims.

Turning to the tactics.

Baroni fields the 4231, that could be propositive also against us (but i am not sure).

They attack in particular from their right with the dialogue Calabresi, Majer, Strefezza. Arturo Calabresi is the son of the famous actor Paolo, a great Roman player, an excellent right-back, good in all phases, especially in the defensive phase. Majer is the team man, he takes corners (being right, from right to exit, and from left to goal), very good at organizing the game and in crosses, especially when he emancipates himself on their right side. Strefezza is excellent in assists. He has already made 6 assists this year in Serie B.

They are also dangerous on their left side, our right with Barreca who played an excellent match in the Italian Cup against us with the Toro shirt in 17-18 when he was very young.

The epicenter of all these assists is Coda: great striker, a lot of experience, more from Serie A than Serie B, a true area animal, good at crosses and to get the team up (even with free kicks), when the Salentini are under pressing. We are also attentive to the entries of Gargiulo.

Defend by man on corners.

The brotherhood of Lecce and Romanist tolerance have one concept in common among many: altruism. Altruism is a virtuous circle just as selfishness is a vicious circle. Acting negatively towards the other, as has happened for seventy years between the US and Russia, does not improve relations, but worsens them. On the other hand, positive gestures, regardless of who starts, are multipliers of mutual win-win situations. Even in football, if you make the reasoning "Now I shoot because you shot first" you will never be able to score, while "I make you score and you make me score" is a gradual growth of the team. This was a bit lacking with Cagliari and it must be seen with Lecce. Daje Roma!

Giordano Sepi