Roma-Cremonese 1-0: Smalling’s goal, injury to Zaniolo

A painful victory, even a dirty one, certainly important for the Giallorossi present and future. Another narrow victory, 1-0, just like with Salernitana eight days ago. To decide there was a goal from Cristante, this time it’s up to a header from Smalling. With one constant, the fact that Roma never concede goals (between friendlies and the championship 7 clean sheets in 10 games and only 5 goals conceded). Even if this time he took a risk compared to the first one, thanks also to a very good Cremonese, who knows how to play football and who played it openly. A narrow victory, obviously dedicated to Gini Wijnaldum. And with a bit of apprehension also for Zaniolo, forced to leave the pitch at the end of the first half due to a problem in his left shoulder.

INTENSE BUT NOT TOO MUCH

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Roma enters the field by warming up with their own jerseys for Wijnaldum, with “Forza Gini” written on it. Then we start, the first ten minutes of the Giallorossi are very intense, also because the Cremonese has come to play it openly and leaves space to play (at the end of the first 45 ‘the ball possession will be 54-46% for the Lombards). So Zaniolo manages to tear as often as he knows, but when it comes to the final choice there is always something that doesn’t fit in the right direction. Dybala, on the other hand, draws football with a couple of openings of rare beauty and a magical assist in the 8th minute for Abraham, who devours the goal of the lead with an empty net. Before, however, it was a Zaniolo-Abraham-Pellegrini combination that called for Radu, who at 19 ‘exalts himself first on a torpedo from outside of Zaniolo and then on the subsequent shot back by Dybala. Then Spinazzola also tries, but the thrust of Rome slowly loses propulsion and the Cremonese also begins to become dangerous. After all, Alvini’s 3-4-1-2 is made to play, not to speculate. Valeri tries, then Dessers with an overhead kick that gives Rui Patricio shivers. And if behind Aiwu he is too foul, Chiriches saves a Giallorossi restart by profession and does the same after Lochoshvili in a couple of circumstances. On the second comes the injury of Zaniolo, who falls back after the conflict with the Georgian, hurts his left shoulder (suspected dislocation) and gives way to El Shaarawy.

CHRIS DECIDES

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The second half started immediately with two blazes, the crossbars of Dessers first and then El Shaarawy. Two flashes, with two beautiful individual plays that certainly deserved more luck. Then the game becomes dirty, confusing, with many fouls and some plays at the limit. The spaces increase, the teams get longer and the technicians run for cover. Alvini throws in Bianchetti, Baez and Buonaiuto, Mourinho is about to put Matic and Zalewski when the advantage arrives: Pellegrini’s corner, Smalling’s winning head, who celebrates with the jersey number 25, that of Wijnaldum. Changes postponed for a while, meanwhile Lochoshvili is insidious from the outside, the same Valeri shortly after. So it’s up to Abraham to call Radu again, so a little high penalty from Buonaiuto. The last thrill comes in the 90th minute, with Pickel’s shot from outside caressing the post to Rui Patricio’s left. It ends like this, with a bit of suffering for Roma and three more points in the safe.