In the year’s final game, Cagliari traveled to the Eternal City where Roma were looking to get back to winning ways and keep in touch with the front running Milan clubs.
Paulo Fonseca for Roma recalled Murush Kumbulla in the heart of his back three replacing Chris Smalling, while Bryan Cristante replaced Roger Ibañez. Bruno Peres returned to the starting lineup for the impressive Leonardo Spinazzola on the left hand side with Gustavo Villar lining up alongside Jordan Veretout in central midfield.
Fonseca was also able to call upon his most trusted front three once again with Pedro chosen to play alongside captain Edin Džeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
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— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 23, 2020
Here's our final starting XI of 2020 – Marash Kumbulla and Gonzalo Villar both start tonight! ?
#ASRoma #RomaCagliari pic.twitter.com/g1OZk5EqHa
Cagliari rang major changes after their 1-1 draw at home to Udinese on the weekend. Coach Eusebio Di Francesco shuffled his pack to move to a 3-5-2 to match his counterparts. Giovani Simeone came into partner João Pedro up front with Charalampos Lykogiannis and Gabriele Zappa as wing backs. The defense was rounded out by Luca Ceppitelli and Sebastian Walukiewicz who played alongside stalwart Diego Godin.
Roma took the lead in the 10th minute through Veretout. A lightning quick breakaway led to Dutchman wing back Rick Karsdorp being left wide open on the right hand side and his low cross took a deflection en route to Veretout. The Frenchman reacted superbly changing his body angle to ensure he could make contact with his right foot, glancing the ball into the ground sending the ball spinning over Alessio Cragno’s reach in goal.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan forced Cragno into a smart save to his right, striking a crisp half volley across the goalkeeper after being found by a lovely through ball from midfield. Kumbulla and Cristante were next to work the Cagliari goalkeeper with thumping headers, the former from a free kick. Both headers had plenty of power but no direction and were turned over the bar by the busy keeper.
Cagliari were struggling to generate any chances but had half a chance in the 35th minute when a whipped low cross from the left just beat the diving Simeone as he found space in between Cristante and Kumbulla in the box.
Mancini collected the half’s fourth yellow with a late tackle on João Pedro as the Brazilian nicked the ball away from the defender looking to get Cagliari on the attack. Chances petered out as Roma sat in for the rest of the half with the side from Sardinia struggling to break down the defense before them.
? | STARTING XI
— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) December 23, 2020
Scendono in campo loro ??#RomaCagliari #forzaCasteddu pic.twitter.com/CcJwYr8E4G
The second half began with Roma firmly in control and applying lots of pressure to the Cagliari goal. Pedro should have scored when played clean through by Mkhitaryan – the Armenian collecting the ball on half way spinning his marker before releasing the Spaniard into acres of space. Pedro took the ball and galloped in one on one with Cragno but went for the delicate chip, which was read and claimed easily by the Cagliari number one.
Captain João Pedro then equalized for the away side just before the hour mark. The Isolani had just begun to take a foot hold in the game moments before the equalizer with some sustained pressure and some slack Roma passing. A loose ball in midfield was headed forward and as the Brazilian made a crossing run from left to right, he took control of the ball on his thigh before firing a finish back across goal into the far corner.
The Giallorossi retook the lead through captain Edin Džeko (his 6th goal of the campaign.) Karsdorp was once again the provider receiving a long switched ball from midfield before driving into the box on the right hand side, before rolling the ball across goal for the Bosnian to thunder home from practically on the line.
Minutes before Fonseca had made a key change bringing on Lorenzo Pellegrini into midfield and the change in shape seemed to galvanize the Giallorossi. This goal seemed to kill off any resistance Cagliari had and it was not long before Roma added to their lead. A corner from the left was hit to the back post by Veretout where substitute Chris Smalling headed back across goal and Mancini rose highest to head home his first goal of the season.
Substitute Borja Mayoral missed a glorious chance to make it four, heading over when presented with an empty net after another incisive breakaway from the Rome side with Bruno Peres laying it on a plate for the Spanish striker.
Cagliari earned a penalty in the 90th minute with Villar clumsily barging into the back of João Pedro after a pass had been played into him from the right. The Brazilian picked himself up, dusted down and dispatched the penalty low to the goalkeepers right, for his second of the night and eighth of the campaign.
3️⃣ goals, 3️⃣ points! ??❤️
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 23, 2020
? The best 25 photos from #RomaCagliari ➡️ https://t.co/0mOw86xc9V pic.twitter.com/8dxi9i0yDD
The Sardinians though were unable to fashion any more opportunities and Roma held on for a valuable three points, taking them up to 3rd in the table. In the new year they will look to continue their good form when they will welcome Sampdoria to the Stadio Olimpico.
Cagliari meanwhile drop to 15th and will welcome the Christmas break having not won in their last seven league games. Upon returning in the new year they will host another title challenger in Napoli.
MATCH REPORT
December 23, 2020 – Serie A 2020-21 Round 14
ROMA-CAGLIARI 3-2
SCORERS: 11′ Veretout (R), 58′ Joao Pedro (C), 71′ Dzeko (R), 75′ Mancini R), 91′ Joao Pedro (C, pen.)
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ROMA (3-4-2-1): Mirante (73′ Pau Lopez); Mancini, Cristante (73′ Smalling), Kumbulla (63′ Ibanez); Bruno Peres, Villar, Veretout, Karsdorp; Pedro (63′ Pellegrini), Mkhitaryan; Dzeko (77′ B. Mayoral) (Farelli, Calafiori, Diawara, Fazio, Jesus, Borja Mayoral, Perez, Santon) Coach: Fonseca |
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CAGLIARI (3-5-2): Cragno; Walukiewicz, Ceppitelli, Godin (85′ Caligara); Zappa, Nandez, Marin (85′ Pereiro), Rog (15′ Oliva), Lykogiannis (78′ Sottil); Joao Pedro, Simeone (78′ Pavoletti) (Vicario, Carboni, Cerri, Ounas, Pisacane, Tramoni, Tripaldelli) Coach: Di Francesco |
REFEREE: Mr. Pairetto from Nichelino
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Cristante, Mancini, Kumbulla (R), Zappa, Nandez (C); Extra Time: 1st Half 2′, 2nd Half 4′
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