The excitement might have been lacking, but Roma delivered their most solid performance of the season so far, managing to keep Juventus at bay for the full 90 minutes in a tense match that ended 0-0 at the Allianz Stadium.
Coming into this game with just one point from their first two matches, Roma and their coach, Daniele De Rossi, were under considerable pressure. Some internal friction within the squad, particularly involving De Rossi and experienced players like Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante, further complicated the situation. With all this brewing in the background, Roma needed something positive from their trip to Torino.
De Rossi didn’t shy away from making bold decisions. Rather than starting Paulo Dybala against his former club, he chose a front line featuring Matías Soulé, Artem Dovbyk, and Alexis Saelemaekers, with Saelemaekers making his debut just a day after joining the team. Even more surprising was the decision to start 19-year-old Nicolo Pisilli in midfield, despite having the experienced Leandro Paredes available.
Roma’s strategy was clear from the start: stay disciplined and frustrate Juventus. Although the attack lacked creativity, Roma’s organization and determination were evident throughout. The defense did a remarkable job neutralizing Juventus’s forwards, Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz, limiting them to just one shot and two key passes between them. When Juventus tried to push through the middle, Roma’s backline held firm, forcing the home team to attempt their luck from wider positions, where they struggled to create any real danger.
In previous seasons, a trip to Allianz Stadium might have seen Roma crumble, especially when their chances in front of goal were so limited. However, this time, they matched Juventus in every aspect of the game. To give you a sense of just how evenly matched the teams were:
- Shots: Juventus 8, Roma 7
- Possession: Juventus 50%, Roma 50%
- Corners: Juventus 6, Roma 4
- Fouls: Juventus 11, Roma 12
- Free kicks: Juventus 11, Roma 10
It’s rare to celebrate a draw, but considering the challenges Roma faced this week—including integrating new players just hours before the match—holding Juventus on their home turf was no small feat. Roma even had a golden chance to snatch a win in the final moments when Angeliño’s shot, set up brilliantly by Nicola Zalewski, nearly found the back of the net.
This goalless draw marks Roma’s first clean sheet against Juventus in Turin in over 20 years. While there’s still work to be done, particularly in involving Dovbyk more in the attack, this match was a sign of progress for De Rossi’s team. The foundation is there, and with time, the results should start falling into place for Roma.
Next up, Roma will have a short break as international fixtures take center stage. They’ll be back in action on the 15th of September with an away game against Genoa.
