From Chiesa Di Totti

  • S.S.C. Napoli vs. A.S. Roma: Lineups & Match Thread

    While this year’s version of the Derby Del Sole might not pack the same punch as the challenges against last year’s Scudetto-winning side, today’s match is still critical for the Giallorossi’s hopes for Champions League qualification. It also marks the true beginning of a challenging series of matches for Roma, with the side facing Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Leverkusen again, and Atalanta between now and May 12. If Roma comes out of this stretch of matches with their hopes for Europa...

  • Probable Formations: Napoli vs Roma

    With Roma in the midst of its most important stretch of the season, Daniele De Rossi will have to find the perfect balance of fielding a strong XI and not overworking his key men. That balancing act becomes just a bit trickier when European knockout round matches are sandwiched between three domestic fixtures against clubs around Roma in the table that are also looking to secure Champions League football at the expense of the Giallorossi. Two players who we know won’t feature in this one are...

  • Napoli vs. Roma: Serie A Match Preview

    It’s like clockwork each April and May. The Giallorossi find themselves deep in European competition (a rarity for an Italian side in most seasons) while also needing to put in significant effort to keep the fight for Champions League qualification alive through the Serie A table. While those several years of repeated trips to the semi-finals of European competitions are a testament to Roma doing things the right way, to borrow a line from the inimitable DJ Khaled, Roma often ends up suffering...

  • A.S. Roma vs. Bologna F.C. 1909: Lineups & Match Thread

    While Roma are down a few key players, the stakes for this Bologna match mean that Daniele De Rossi was obligated to put forward his strongest possible starting eleven, and capitano futuro delivered. While Tammy Abraham replaces Romelu Lukaku in the starting lineup and Diego Llorente continues in his role as third centerback behind the still-recovering Evan Ndicka, the rest of this lineup was fairly easy to predict. For Bologna, the absence of Lewis Ferguson will weigh heavy on Thiago Motta’s...

  • Probable Formations: Roma vs Bologna

    Thursday’s Europa League quarterfinal second leg kicked off what will be a hellish stretch of matches for Roma, one that was made just a bit more difficult with the suspended Udinese match set for Thursday. Just four days after eliminating Milan to advance to their fourth straight European semifinal, Roma will host Bologna in their biggest domestic match to date. With the Giallorossi just four points behind the Rossoblu (with the Udinese match in hand), three points could be critical in the race...

  • Fourth Place on the Line as Roma Host Bologna

    Even Evan Ndicka’s injury has been unable to keep this refreshed Giallorossi down. While there was certainly cause for anxiety heading into the second leg of Roma’s quarterfinal matchup against Milan in the Europa League, and as much as Romanisti should grumble about Serie A’s decision to have Roma finish the suspended Udinese match on April 25th, things still look to be looking up for I Lupi. Yet even with the fifth Champions League spot secured through league coefficient rating, I’m sure I’m...

  • Roma Rumor Roundup: De Rossi's New Deal, Chiesa Transfer, Udinese Replay Controversy & More!

    It was another banner week in the Eternal City for Daniele De Rossi and the Giallorossi. After watching in horror as Evan Ndicka collapsed on the pitch late in the match against Udinese, the club was able to breathe a sigh of relief after Ndicka was given a relatively clean bill of health—or at the very least, the prognosis wasn't as severe as initially feared. Roma then quickly pivoted, shifting their focus to the second and decisive leg of the Europa League Quarterfinals against AC Milan, a...

  • A.S. Roma vs. A.C. Milan: Lineups & Match Thread

    While I certainly didn’t expect the Giallorossi to be up a goal heading into the home leg of this quarterfinal matchup with Milan, it’s a blessing that I will take in stride while not coming close to believing that it makes this tie a done deal. There’s no doubt that Milan will be looking to win tonight, and Daniele De Rossi will have to apply the same tactical know-how he used last week in an attempt to confound Pioli and his men. Despite the injury to Evan Ndicka in Roma’s weekend match (get...

  • Probable Formations: AS Roma vs AC Milan

    “It’s an interesting question and one which I think reveals the essence of this job. You’re always looking for something that might work but at the same time you’re always afraid of trying to do too much. That’s what [journalist Daniele] Lo Monaco always writes about in his articles. “I think there are certain qualities that your opponents have which you should always be respectful of. You have to figure out to what extent something that worked in the first game can be changed by your opposite...