This may indeed be the most alarming data point of the night, far surpassing the result, which can essentially be attributed to specific incidents, sheer misfortune, or judgment calls made by the referee (not that there were any of those in yesterday’s match, besides of course the usual attempt made by Roma – we’re now at 5 after the initial 8 in the season). One game, statistically speaking, carries almost no weight at all. The challenge here is that the Giallorossi, in their last 16 matches, have only successfully clinched away victories against the likes of Milan, Helsinki, and Vitesse. On the flip side, they have found themselves bested by: Bodo/Glimt, Ludogorets, Salzburg, Feyenoord, Slavia Prague, and Brighton. Apologies, but you did not provide any text for translation. Please, insert the text you wish for me to translate. Certainly not against the heavyweights! Fortunately, in the next two away games, Roma won’t have to confront Tottenham on their home turf in London. %), but showed a clear lack in terms of interpreting the match and exploiting the gained spaces. The underestimation, assumption, and patience issues must be solved using serious means. They could have shifted the momentum if they would have scored the penalty. While speaking of that, why was Pellegrini kicking it? After his miss in the last championship, has he already forgotten or forgiven himself?

Throwing away the confused anticipation and forgiving ourselves, here’s another highlight that needs to be underlined. Once again, the result is unanswered. The lack of shots on target, lack of offensive determination is a clear indicator of a great fall in performance standards. The problem does not seem to be the number of shots, but the inability to turn those shots into goals. This, my dear viewers, is a clear sign of a team that lacks vitality and the decisive spark needed for advancing and making your mark in the football championship!

_Patiently holding the ball is a valid tactic, but not if it is not aimed at anything in particular. There must be goal-oriented actions along with the possession._

As you can see, a team aspiring to win the whole competition not being able to ensure at least a tie against a team that has not tasted victory in Europe in over 46 years is simply unthinkable. After Udinese, Athletic, and Venezia, the yellow and red brigade indeed regained control of the ball again (75%). But they displayed a glaring lack in match interpretation and making optimal use of the spaces gained. The issues of underestimating, assuming, and lack of patience ought to be addressed seriously. The tide could have turned in their favor, had they scored the penalty. Speaking of which, why was Pellegrini the one to take the shot? Has he so quickly forgotten his miss in the last championship? Or forgiven himself?

Let’s erase the confused anticipation, shall we? And then focus on yet another vital aspect. The result, friends, remains unanswered. The missing shots on target, the lack of assaultive determination are evident signals of a major decline in performance standards. It’s not the number of shots However, the problem presents in the fact that, unlike the first half with Udinese and Bilbao, this time, Roma handled the ball with an unsettling laziness. No deep cuts, no quick passes, absolutely nothing!