Juve – Roma 2-0

Roma did not play badly. He has had more possession, more territory and more shots, but football is often a cruel game, where the winner is not the one who plays better, but the one who scores. Juve made 2 and deservedly won.

In the first there is perhaps a half mistake by Pau Lopez. To see the ball go, move to the right (because it is covered by Kumbulla). Ronaldo is good at placing the ball between Marash's legs and then on Pau's left. It's not a very strong shot and Pau has to work on reactivity (a quick step to the left would have saved the situation).

Pau has been fundamental with his calm in setting and in the saves to give the right tranquility to the team in recent years. But calm does not have to be mental laziness: it is essential to work on reactivity.

There was also a lack of reactivity on loose balls where Juve beat us many times, like on the occasion of the second goal.

In the second goal, I see no fault of Ibanez in a desperate situation like that. We didn't just have to be in that situation.

Juve played an excellent, intelligent and humble game. He made the rational choice of defense and counterattack. He has hit on the few occasions he has had. It was very dangerous (more dangerous than us) on a couple of other occasions

On the doubtful case of Villar, Orsato probably saw Villar go against Rabiot and not the other way around in a sort of breakthrough foul. He could still go to see the episode at the VAR. However, we must be smart. The other teams scream like hyenas in any doubtful case. We must do the same too. It's not a great sign of sporting culture, but this attitude, it seems, pays off. Now, however, we are not looking for excuses, Roma could and should have done better, beyond the Rabiot-Villar episode.

Purtroppo abbiamo pagato anche il litigio Fonseca-Dzeko. Dzeko, essendo un giocatore possente, è un diesel, entra in forma dopo un po’ che sta in campo, farlo entrare al 60esimo è stato completamente inutile, mentre Brunetto è stato brillante, capace di mettere un paio di cross pericolosi.

As I have already written, Roma did not play badly. Of course, there is work to be done. The growth path must continue. Pau is not the only one responsible for the defeat. As are not only stray balls. We had to do better even in the offensive phase. If you have possession, territory and 14 shots on goal, you need to know how to bring home a few goals. We were facing a strong team that beat us with defense and counterattack. Now we will go to face another good team like Udinese. It is essential to be more reactive and more effective in shooting. Daje Roma!

Giordano Sepi