In the starting line-up for the 7th time
©IMAGO
The positive trend at AS Roma with Mats Hummels will continue in the new year. In the prestigious city derby against Lazio, the Giallorossi won 2-0 and are unbeaten in three games in a row. The oldest Roma professional, aged 36, was in the starting line-up in all games, once again alongside ex-Frankfurt player Evan Ndicka and Italian international Gianluca Mancini.
In mid-November, Claudio Ranieri took over the coaching position at Roma – the third coach this season after Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric. Under Ranieri’s predecessors, Hummels only played 23 minutes in the 5-1 defeat against Fiorentina. Since the 73-year-old took office, the ex-BVB defender has appeared in eight of ten games, including seven times in the starting line-up. There were three wins in the last five league games, a 1-1 against Milan and a 0-2 against newly promoted Como – where Hummels was on the bench for 90 minutes.
When AS Roma won the heated city derby against Lazio, the former German international sparked a pack formation. In the third minute of added time, the central defender fouled opponent Taty Castellanos on the sideline, and both of them clashed heads when they got up. Suddenly Hummels fell to the ground and covered his face with both hands. A little later he suggested that he had received a headbutt from the Lazio attacker. Immediately after the scene, a pack formed in front of 65,042 fans in the Stadio Olimpico, in which many players and also some supervisors were involved. The referee showed Castellanos the red card (90+5).
A short time later, Hummels was able to celebrate Roma’s victory in the 163rd city duel against Lazio in Serie A. The former Dortmund player impressed with his strength in duels and overview. The goals were scored by Lorenzo Pellegrini (10th minute) and Alexis Saelemaekers (18th). Despite the victory, AS Roma (10th place) is twelve points behind city rivals Lazio (4th) and nine points behind the international business (to the Serie A table)