Daniele de Rossi, Roma coach since January 16, 2024, has got the capital club fully on track – and that still holds true after this Easter weekend. However, the Roman professionals experienced a disappointment in Lecce
Daniele de Rossi had every reason for a rant on this Serie A Easter matchday. After all, his team, who have been on a good run of late and picked up plenty of points in the battle for the Champions League, had a very poor first 45 minutes in Lecce.
The relegation-threatened underdogs, whose team can be called the Giallorossi just like the Romans’, allowed the favored capital team to get the better of them for almost the entire first period. The only good thing was that the AS defense stood up well for the most part and could rely on goalkeeper Svilar, who has been replacing the previous number one Rui Patricio for weeks
The 24-year-old Belgian-Serbian goalkeeper made saves against former Bundesliga player Pongracic (8th minute), Dorgu (33rd) and Piccoli (40th). Gallo (28) and Piccoli (42) also narrowly missed their target
Roma wake up late
Only a Paredes corner, which Falcone defused in front of the goal line (6th), and Baldanzi (11th), who was only brought in from Empoli in the winter, were able to create a slight danger in front of Lecce’s box. Until just before the break, however, there was a yawning void from Roma’s point of view, and there was no sign of Lukaku at all. But then it should have rung, but AS’s own Zalewski failed to put the ball in the net from close range, while Angelino missed by a hair’s breadth from a short set-piece (45.+1).
The aluminum saves
Whether de Rossi had now become loud in the dressing rooms? Not known. However, the men from the “Eternal City” looked better, allowing the ball to circulate more and hardly making a dent defensively for long periods. And yet there was a lack of bright attacking ideas, only Baldanzi was able to be played free – but his attempt was far too hasty and inaccurate (60′). Lukaku also failed to direct his header accurately enough towards the US box in the 68th minute, while substitute midfielder Aouar missed what was possibly Roma’s best chance of Easter in front of goalkeeper Falcone (71′). Joker El Shaarawy aimed straight into Falcon’s arms (78′).
At the end of the day, at the end of this 30th Serie A matchday, it had to be said: The Romans did not deserve more than a 0-0 draw in Apulia – especially as Lecce’s players, who have only been coached by Luca Gotti since March, should actually have won themselves. But Dorgu missed to the right after a great attack virtually alone in front of the empty box (68′), Banda despaired at the fingertips of AS goalkeeper Svilar (85′), Sansone missed far too hectically (86′) – and Oudin struck the top edge of the crossbar with his late long-range strike (90.+4). Even joker Dybala (who was out of action again and only available for a few minutes) could not prevent Roma from scoring – the Argentinian only got in front of the box once, but his shot was blocked.
And so, despite another strong 2024, the capital city giallorossi lost sight of fourth place and FC Bologna (3-0 against US Salernitana), now five points behind, while the Puglia giallorossi made up some ground in the basement.
