It can take just a few weeks (or possibly months) earlier than we are able to decide whether or not yesterday’s loss in opposition to Torino was “a kind of matches,” a worrying portend of future issues, or only a signal that Roma hasn’t totally absorbed Gian Piero Gasperini’s ways. However one factor is definite: For the primary time in his quick time at Roma, Gasperini’s group is going through adversity.
After a 90-minute slog in opposition to Torino, the place Gasperini’s assault basically butted their heads in opposition to the wall for the primary hour, Roma’s good begin to the 2025-2026 season is now not intact. As an alternative of becoming a member of Napoli and Juventus as the one unbeaten groups within the league, Roma’s six factors from three matches now put them on stage pegging with Cremonese, for crying out loud.
Commercial
Now, there are nonetheless 35 matches remaining, so let’s not throw out the infant with the bathwater. Nonetheless, as lots of you astutely identified after Roma’s afternoon encounter with Torino, not solely was this “a kind of matches” that Roma failed to point out up for, but it surely would possibly grow to be “a kind of matches” that in the end prices them a spot within the Champions League subsequent season.
However for now, let’s attempt to put a optimistic spin on yesterday’s loss. In any case, it took an especially well-struck ball from Giovanni Simeone to win this sport, so there are just a few silver linings from Sunday’s stinker on the Stadio Olimpico—emphasis on just a few.
The SaintsMatías Soulé
He virtually levelled the match just a few occasions within the second half however was far and away Roma’s greatest outfield participant in opposition to Torino. Taking part in the complete match, Soulé was typically the staff’s solely attacking spark, finishing 90% of his passes, together with 4 key passes, whereas successful all his duels and drawing three fouls.
Commercial
Mile Svilar
Sure, I do know Roma misplaced 1-0, so it might sound unusual to see the goalkeeper on the listing of saints, however there wasn’t a lot Svilar might do to cease Simeone’s roller towards the far publish. Additionally, watch the replay and see what number of occasions Roma missed the possibility to finish the counterattack, both taking a foul angle towards the ball or lacking the sort out altogether.
Apart from that, Svilar was as spectacular as ever, making two saves within the field, together with an unimaginable one-handed reflex cease to maintain the match at 1-0. General, Svilar prevented 1.14 targets and accomplished 23 of 25 passes, together with six of eight lengthy passes.
Commercial
The Sinners
Regardless of the decrepit efficiency within the attacking finish, there weren’t many obtrusive errors from Gasperini’s group yesterday, however they’re not rising utterly unscathed.
Gianluca Mancini
Nobody has ever accused Mancini of being the smoothest defender within the league, however Roma’s wildman-turned-wily veteran was off his sport in opposition to Torino. Though the season continues to be younger, Mancini delivered his worst efficiency beneath Gasperini, falling effectively under his season averages in a number of classes, together with successful solely 33% of his duels in comparison with his season mark of 59%.
Once more, Mancini didn’t do something notably atrocious, however when your assault is struggling, your protection needs to be laser-focused.
Commercial
Bryan Cristante
We’ll skip the statistical evaluation for this one. In his first begin as Roma’s captain, Cristante was, effectively, he was Bryan Cristante: a step too gradual in midfield, ineffective in opposition to the counterattack, and hardly inspiring. And this time, his saving grace—his exact deep passing—was additionally lacking from the equation. If you’d like an encapsulation of Cristante’s faults yesterday, look no additional than his feeble try to cease Simeone’s match-winner.
Roma can’t afford many liabilities in assault, so he should be higher than this—he’ll by no means be as dynamic as Radja Nainggolan or as sturdy on the ball as Kevin Strootman. Nonetheless, Roma can scrape out factors with the Cristante we noticed within the season’s first two matches—however the lead-footed man we noticed yesterday? That’s the stuff of nightmares.
Caught In BetweenPaulo Dybala
Whereas he’s unquestionably Roma’s most gifted participant, transitioning to life as a part-time participant was certain to result in some uneven performances early within the season. Beginning in opposition to Torino yesterday, Dybala didn’t actually threaten the objective, however he was among the many membership’s few sources of creativity, offering two key passes and finishing two of 4 crosses—although he didn’t have the identical tempo-shifting, vibe-altering affect as he did in opposition to Pisa.
Commercial
I think Dybala will probably be greatest used as a second-half savior, just like Francesco Totti through the later days of his profession, when he was nonetheless one of the vital efficient forwards within the league on a per-90-minute foundation, regardless of taking part in a component time function.
Roma is all the time higher off with Dybala on the pitch, however yesterday, he simply couldn’t transfer the needle sufficient to vary the result.
Evan Ferguson
Approaching to begin the second half, Ferguson threw himself into the combination, contributing one key move, successful 4 of eight duels, and taking two photographs—each astray, and therein lies the difficulty. As a lot as we’ve praised his positioning and motion, the child has to seek out the again of the online ultimately. With 0.23 xG targets from simply two makes an attempt, statistically talking, no different Roma participant had a greater likelihood to attain in opposition to Torino.
Commercial
We’ve definitely seen strikers battle of their first season in Rome, so let’s hope Ferguson finds his groove quickly.
Mario Hermoso
The previous Atletico man put in a crisp 79-minute efficiency, main all Roma gamers with seven defensive actions, together with six clearances, whereas finishing 90% of his passes, together with three correct lengthy balls. Hermoso stunned most Serie A analysts when he secured the beginning spot alongside Mancini and Evan Ndicka, and thru the primary three rounds, it looks like Gasperini made the proper resolution.