After Naples, a series of games to exploit. An away win has been missing since April 25th, against Udinese
Paradoxically, what seems like the most difficult road to maintaining a place in next year’s Europe could also become the most interesting. As long as we win today Udinethus maintaining the positive streak that has led Roma to score 11 points in the championship in the last five games, with home victories against Parma, Lazio and Genoa and away draws with Milan and Bologna. Because if the Rome has a chance to still hope for the “comeback” then this is linked to what will happen in the next two months, between now and March 30th. The calendar is in fact there, at your fingertips, and offers a series of succulent matches from an appealing point of view. And the possibility of bringing home point after point. Then, of course, the end of the season will be terrible, but getting to face it after having scored so many points – and perhaps even recovered positions in the standings – would then mean going into those challenges with ideal self-esteem.
Evan’s wait
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The sine qua non, however, is to win today in Udine, also to interrupt that annoying negative streak that has now lasted for 9 months and which has seen Roma not win a match away from home for 18 games now. The last one was in Udine, on April 25th, with the last-gasp coup of Cristante (returning to the squad today after almost two months of absence) on the day of recovery for what happened earlier to Ndicka (a pneumothorosis which led to the Ivorian defender of the Giallorossi fainting on the pitch). Who, obviously, will have a special day, if only for the fear of the danger experienced on the lawn of the Bluenergy Stadium. Roma also wants to win to find a smile away from home, considering that its performance away from the Olimpico they are relegated (just 6 points in ten games, only Venezia did worse with 4 in eleven).
The choices
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Ranieri will do some changesalso because before the series of “soft” matches there is the Eintracht-Napoli-Milan triptych, between championship and cups, three matches that will decide the Giallorossi’s future. The big doubt is whether to let him play again Dybala from the go or rely instead on Souléwhich the Giallorossi coach liked in Holland for the way he approached the match. Matias seems favored to start, although it is possible that the two will switch. Also because it could truly be a special match for Dybala, one that would allow him to celebrate the extension of his contract until 2026 (it would be the 78th match out of 139, provided he plays at least 45 minutes). Furthermore, Udinese is truly a sort of amulet for Joya, considering that in 22 direct matches with the Friulians Paulo he scored 14 goals and placed 10 assists. These are his personal bests, both in terms of goals (after Udinese the favorite victims are Lazio and Genoa with 11 goals) and decisive passes (then Milan with 6). In short, in 22 matches Dybala was involved in 24 goals, more than one per match on average. La Joya wants to be there today too, if it were up to him he would never stop. Ranieri will decide at the last minute. But the comeback also needs (and above all) its feet…
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