In Focus: Can Roma rise from the ruins under Fonseca?

 In Focus: Can Roma rise from the ruins under Fonseca?

Roma’s two-decade wait for a league title could soon be over — if their early form is anything to go by.  

Paulo Fonseca’s men are on a seven-match unbeaten run in Serie A ahead of a mettle-testing trip to Napoli on Sunday evening, which you can watch for FREE on the LiveScore app. 

Can Roma finally rise from the ruins and win the Scudetto once again? 

The table doesn’t lie… or does it?

Heading into this weekend, Roma occupied third in the Serie A table.

Second-placed Sassuolo were just a point ahead of them and there was only three points between Fonseca's side and leaders AC Milan.   

But a closer look at the expected points table, charting how the league should look based on the quality of chances for each team, shows Roma actually lead the way with 17.37 expected points. 

The league table does not lie, as the saying goes — but it may also not show the whole picture. 

Paying the penalty

Fonseca’s side would be unbeaten in Serie A had it not been for an administrative error.  

The Giallorossi’s goalless draw with Verona on the opening day was awarded as a 3-0 defeat after Amadou Diawara was inadvertently included in the under-22 section of Roma's squad.  

And that is not the only penalty issue Fonseca (pictured above) has seen his side encounter this term as they have already given away three spot-kicks. 

Defensive improvements on the horizon?

Roma’s defensive performances have not been that bad — but they also have not been outstanding. 

They have conceded 11 goals in eight games and boasted the joint-most clean sheets before this weekend (three), while their expected goals against tally stands at just nine for the season. 

Roma may not have the most solid backline of Serie A’s title challengers but, marshalled by Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez, they are still a tough nut to crack

All about the attack

One thing there can be no doubt about is Roma’s attacking quality. 

They go into Sunday’s fixture having created more big chances than any other team in Italy (3.38 per 90 minutes) and with the second-most shots on target at six per 90 minutes.  

Roma are also devastating on the counter-attack, managing 1.75 fast breaks per game, and are a significant danger from set-pieces with 0.25 goals direct from free-kicks or corners per match. 

Mkhitaryan back to his best

After years of decline at Manchester United and Arsenal, English football fans will be amazed by the renaissance Henrikh Mkhitaryan is enjoying in Rome. 

The winger, 31, has racked up a staggering nine goals and assists in 2020-21 already.

That is only beaten by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 11 contributions and averages out at an impressive 1.16 goals and assists per 90 minutes played.   

If the Armenian continues his revival, it would be unwise to bet against Roma ending their Scudetto drought this term.