The match against Napoli in the ninth week of Serie A at home, in the Olimpico stadium on Sunday, October 24, 2021, became a vital match for AS Roma. The team made by coach Jose Mourinho carried out two important missions. The first is to restore trust and the team’s big name.
As we all know AS Roma lost two in a row before this match. The most memorable of course the embarrassing incident three days before this match. The club nicknamed the Capital Wolf was just massacred by a small Norwegian club, Bodo Glimt in the group phase of the UEFA Conference League, a third-tier European club championship with a striking score of 1-6.
Although coach Mourinho argued that the defeat was due to the players being played by the majority of second-tier players who lacked experience, as a big team, the result was still unacceptable for AS Roma. Previously last week, AS Roma also lost 0-1 to Juventus in the Serie A match. Therefore, the team from the Italian capital must achieve maximum results in the party against Napoli in order to maintain the club’s big name.
The second is motivation as the first team to stop Napoli’s fantastic record. Who can stop Napoli’s winning streak? That’s the question that has always been a question for Italian league lovers week after week following Napoli’s fantastic record which has won their first eight games this season.
Luciano Spalletti’s team emerged as a new force in Serie A. So it becomes a matter of pride when they beat them or at least play a draw. Eight teams have declared surrender. There are names Venezia, Genoa, Juventus, Udinese, Sampdoria, Cagliari, Fiorentina and finally Torino all fell to Napoli. Until finally the name AS Roma emerged as the first team to successfully stop that record after forcing a goalless draw on the ninth week of Serie A.
Previously, the coach of Rome, Jose Mourinho was quite optimistic about this match. “Our first team played well and had the right mentality. And we will play with that mentality” Mourinho commented before the game.
The visitors Napoli dominated the game. However, overall the game was evenly matched. Both teams shared attacks, but neither of them managed to score a goal. AS Roma opened the scoring in the 7th minute through their captain Lorenzo Pellegrini with a left-footed shot in the box. But Kalidou Koulibaly blocked it and only produced a corner.
Twenty minutes later a golden opportunity also failed to be utilized by Tamny Abraham who was already dealing with goalkeeper David Ospina after receiving the ball from Bryan Cristante. However, it failed to become a goal. In the second half Gianluca Mancini also failed to score for AS Roma after his header which received a freekick from Pellegrini only went wide.
The visitors Napoli also created a number of opportunities that were quite troublesome for the AS Roma players. Victor Osimhen had several opportunities, but did not manage to break into the opponent’s goal.
Osimhen actually scored a goal in the 87th minute. But the referee disallowed it for being caught offside. Meanwhile, his header in the 73rd minute when he got the ball from Pietr Zielinski just hit the post. Another opportunity was also obtained by captain Lorenzo Insigne at the end of the first half, and only hit a AS Roma player so that The ball was easily secured by AS Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
Despite playing a draw, this result is quite satisfactory for AS Roma coach, Jose Mourinho. “A great and exhausting match with the right result” commented Mourinho after the game. AS Roma is now stuck in the standings with 16 points. Meanwhile, Napoli continues to lead with 25 points.
ASL
