Roma start off on the right foot

Here we are.  Italian Serie A finally reappears with Roma taking the field against Udinese. The Olympic Stadium is not exactly the bedlam you would expect, unfortunately still missing a chunk of the noisy fans in the Curva Sud.

On the pitch, Luciano Spalletti decided to rest some players from the game in Oporto, and fielded a team with the return of Szczesny in goal and launches Leandro Paredes with late signing Bruno Peres. Both made a great impression. Paredes did the metronome in the middle of the park and with real personality; Peres often gave great accelerations on the right flank.  The same cannot be said about Emerson Palmieri in place of Juan Jesus on the left, still rather unconvincing at this level.  On the bench were left also De Rossi and Perotti.  

@OfficialASRoma

 It was a slow start in the first half with no tempo, some intensity but no real pressure. Second half saw a change in attitude and gear shift.  Dzeko showed great character, credit to the Bosnian, especially in the second half, including that of procuring the penalty that unlocked the game.Substitute Diego Perotti converted this and another penalty later, with Dzeko himself making it 3-0 from close range in the 82nd and Salah finished things off two minutes later as the Giallorossi prepare for the return leg of the Champions League playoffs.  After a 1-1 draw in the opening leg, Roma hosts Porto on Tuesday, hoping to advance to the Champions League group stage, to do so they would need to show the same attitude seen today in the second half.  Or what we seen with Porto in the first half..

Paredes looks set to stay in spite of market rumours, Spalletti gave the nod, he’s a great, young prospect, even if Fiorentina’s Borja Valero will arrive, the two men should make a very strong midfield, together with Strrotman, De Rossi and Nainnggolan, probably the best in Serie A.  The Champions League play off will provide for the cash required to get Valero if Roma advances to the Group Stages. This is the only way to see Roma competing at the highest level, with Juventus leading the pack. 

 Slainte. Cheers. Salute. Forza Roma.