Ugly and soulless. Sampdoria gives a demonstration of total fragility, they only make a presence at the Olimpico, Roma wins 4-1 without any effort, the result does not reflect the difference seen on the pitch in the first half hour, where the game really took place. Peter’s trust Accardi before the match he does not find confirmation on the pitch. «We are convinced of the value of our squad and that we can reverse the trend». There is little to wait for the counter test, Sunday in Cremona. It’s difficult to draw insights from a race that’s over before it starts, the determination of Vieira, the physicality of Akinsanmiro, a couple of flashes of Pedrola, the panache of Leonardi, baby without fear, they are not enough to draw an acceptable balance. Only the championship counts, but these performances don’t help.
Simple he doesn’t offer any surprises, he relies on a rather unrealistic 4-3-3 to be able to put Pedrola in its ideal position, wide to the left. Vismara is between the posts, with in front Come, Meulensteen, Vulikic and Veroli. In the middle of Akinsanmiro, Yepes and Vieira, captain’s armband. We start with a trident in front with Borini, Leonardi, on his debut as a starter, and Pedrola.
Roma-Sampdoria is not just a round of 16 final of the Italian Cup on a prestigious stage, with more than eight hundred Blucerchiati fans in tow even on a working and pre-Christmas Wednesday. For the coach it becomes an opportunity to evaluate the entire squad in four days. Compared to the starting eleven against Spezia, they remain only starters Venuti and Meulensteen, but the field turns out to be a merciless judge and becomes a missed opportunity. It is the tenth match at the Olimpico with the Giallorossi in the Italian Cup, almost eight years have passed since the last meeting, always at the same level of the competition. Marco on the bench Giampaoloin campo Bereszynski, now injured, and was 0-4, Nainggolan, Dzeko, El Shaarawy and again the Belgian overtook Puggioni.
Simple feels the race. Wearing a jacket on the sideline, he is immediately on his feet and does not want the defensive line to be too low, but he is not listened to. Vismara he immediately objects to Baldanzi, but appears surprised by the close touch of Dovbyk (9′), caught from the perfect cross by Saelemakers in the middle of the central couple set back too large and impalpable. The doubling is a photocopy, the usual cross from the undisturbed Belgian, Meulensteen he is clumsy in his intervention and hits the crossbar, but the Ukrainian’s tap in (19′) is really too easy.
It looks like a training match. The disorganization and individual errors are evident, as is the too soft approach on a general level. In addition to the goals, the first few minutes featured childish errors Yepes and the disoriented Vulikic, twice. The trio of Baldanzi (24′), with a left-footed shot from the edge, after starting shortly after half-court, is almost embarrassing due to the ease of the play, without any opposition from the opposition.
Simple changes and returns to the three-man defense, moving back Everything To the right. Place Pedrola next to Leonardi. Roma have a full belly, Sampdoria doesn’t sting. Attempts to Leonardi, with a convict’s hand Literate in the rebound, e Veroli they don’t worry the goalkeeper Ryan.
After the break, Simple perhaps he is already thinking of Cremona, he adds Depaoli and John, who recovered from the back problem suffered against Spezia, in place of Veroli, too shy about Saelemakers, e Pedrola, with the advancement of Everything next to Leonardi. Now the formation is more logical, a school 3-5-2, with the players placed in their natural positions. The pitch is better covered and you immediately notice a greater physicality. The Sampdoria goal is a gift. Roma’s defense opens up, Yepes (16′) gets into the area following the attacker’s cross Depaoli and scores, first professional goal for the Spaniard.
Rome awakens, Soulé (18′) hits the crossbar, Vismara (20′) closes up Dovbyk, Shomurodov (34′), with his header, he doesn’t make a mistake, in the middle of a still motionless backfield. Sassuolo and Cesena conceded six goals in the round of 16, Sampdoria limited the damage, but it was little consolation.
