Giallorossi face up to the Bainconeri in Rome; 2-2 draw. 

 

 

Stadio Olimpico on a sunny Sunday, resplendent in red with a packed Curva Sud.  A mouthwatering prospect of Juventus coming to town, billed as a game to decide whether Roma has the mettle to lift the Scudetto next year. 

 

Spalletti fielded a strong side with Doni in goal, Cassetti, Mexes, Juan and Tonetto in a back four; Zebena is still out with a suspension; Two deep lying midfielders are Aquilani; very impressive so far this season; and De Rossi, solid in front of the back four; Taddei, Perrotta and Mancini; getting his first Serie A start; would work to support Totti. 

 

Ranieri had some skill at his disposal; Buffon in goal with a back line of Grygera, Andrade, the youngster Criscito and Chiellini; Nocerino, Iaquinta, Zanetti and Nedved operated in midfield with Trezeguet; locking for his 10oth Serie A goal; and Del Piero up front; although Iaquinta was likely to play more forward as Del Piero drops deeper. 

 

The early Roma pressure comes from Taddei, Totti and Cassetti on the right, the full back is sent through with a delightful turn and pass from his captain and forces a class save from Buffon. 

Juve are content to sit back and defend whilst Roma look to pressure early with plenty of ball through the middle, they have better success wide when they can get behind Juve though. 

Iaquinta is a threat in the air for Juve and but his involvement in the first goal is a cross from the right after Juve scramble the ball clear following some Roma pressure, Trezeguet stoops and beats Doni to the ball as he heads the visitors in front. 

Roma start to apply more pressure, Aquilani orchestrating from midfield and Totti causing problems off the shoulder of the defenders, Mancini feeds the killer ball in from the left, Totti's skill takes him around Criscito and he calmly slots the ball past Buffon.  Roma continue to harry and press, looking for a second.  Juve are looking to hold on till the half and regroup, a few attacks don't trouble Doni too much. 

Cassetti comes off for Cicinho. 

The Del Piero, not having his best game in black and white, takes one touch too many on the edge of Doni's area, he loses the ball and it comes out to Aquilani on the left, he puts the ball infield to Cicinho who delivers a great cross field ball to Mancini on the far left edge of Buffon's area, he cuts inside and fires the ball in low from the byline, Aquilani has mad up plenty of ground to be there at the near post but Buffon parries his strike away, Totti is lurking in the box and stabs it home through two Juventus defenders for his second.  Thumb sucking celebrations as per usual. 

Tonetto puts a ball across Buffon which Mancini can't get a touch too and Juan heads past his own post when clearing up a Nedved header on.  Roma are on top as the half winds down. 

 

Legrottaglie comes in for Criscito at the half, the young defender was culpable for the first and involved in the second Roma goal.  Spalletti keep the status quo. 

 

Roma start on the front foot, Cicinho, Taddei and Aquilani fashioning a chance that goes behind; Mancini get the ball after Juve only half clear but can't get a shot in from inside the area. 

Nedved runs onto a long through ball and hits the deck under minimal contact from Cicinho and pressure from De Rossi, a penalty is given and De Rossi sees yellow; uncharacteristically Del Piero skies the spot kick. 

Perrotta fires over from a Taddei cross; Buffon saves Totti's daisy cutter free kick and cleans up the rebound from Mancini; Doni acrobatically cleans up ahead of Iaquinta; Roma continue to apply pressure with a string of offsides just after the hour mark. 

The game seems to winding down, Roma look easy, although Taddei is obviously tired and Juve seem to be content with the result.  Palladino is bright since coming on but just one man doesn't seem enough for Juve. 

At the death the referee penalizes Cicinho for something and Juve get a throw in deep in Roma's half, Chiellini takes it and Iaquinta rises at the near post with a backwards header that loops over Doni for the equalizer. 

A few frantic moments follow but the two points has been thrown away and Spalletti is furious. 

 

Good result for the Bianconeri, Ranieri shows promise and his players put up a good fight, Iaquinta and not Trezeguet or Del Piero was the main threat and the team looked reasonably solid when defending. 

 

Spalletti will be furious that his team threw away the hard work of the first half to come from behind with some slack finishing and poor defending. 

 

The referee made the oddest decision of the game though; he got most things right; including the penalty and adopted a fairly good stance on most things only stepping in when absolutely necessary, above average though, not brilliant. 

FIFA Law stipulates that:-

 

"If, after the ball is in play, the thrower touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player:

 

    * an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred *

 

If, after the ball is in play, the thrower deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:

 

    * a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred *