Rome-Bologna 1-0: Pellegrini scores, Abraham saves everything at the last second

ROME – The first Italian team as a player, Roma, the last as a coach, Bologna. After Mihajlovic’s death on December 16, two of his former teams created a hard-fought, edgy, physical match. Of those that the Serbian loved to play, the best way to pay homage to him other than a yellow banner with the wording “Ciao Sinisa” displayed on the pitch before the kick-off and the applause of the 62,000 Olympic stadium, also repeated to remember Pelé. The first challenge after the break for the World Cup was decided by a penalty from Pellegrini after six minutes. Foul by Lucumi on Zaniolo after the only valuable play by Dybala, the fresh world champion who appeared unloaded today.

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Mourinho launches Tahirovic and changes form

Roma greeted 2023 with a new look and a new player. In the starting 3-5-2 Mourinho inserted the midfielder Tahirovic, nineteen-year-old Swede in his first starting position, the second player in Serie A after a few minutes with Turin before Qatar 2022. Cristante to control the situation, Pellegrini to support in the possession Dybala and Zaniolo. Not Abraham, fielded in the last half hour. Full-range Celik and El Shaarawy engaged in melee against Soriano and Orsolini respectively. Yes, because with the new year Thiago Motta also tried to change something: Medel in front of the defense – old-fashioned midfielder – with Dominguez and Ferguson freer to accompany Arnautovic towards Rui Patricio’s goal.

Rome, Pellegrini scores from a penalty

It takes Bologna a few minutes to get used to the new tactical arrangement and Roma take advantage of it: Dybala and Zaniolo triangulate on the trocar, the blue enters the area and Lucumi knocks him down. Zero doubts, clear rigor. Pellegrini from the spot is not wrong. As the minutes go by, Bologna settles down and doesn’t struggle to cancel the only offensive solution that Roma proposes, the high ball to climb over the rossoblù defensive line with the cut of one of the forwards. Cristante’s solitary foray in the 35th minute, not dangerous for Skorupski, is the symptom that something up front isn’t working. Two piles from a corner, in the first half final, make the Olimpico wince just for an instant.

Thiago Motta asks for a penalty

Roma start the second half with a different attitude, the will is to try to close the game. The first danger comes from Smalling with a header, who had got Mourinho out of trouble three times in the first part of the season. But this time his punch ends just a little high. Bologna left the flanks for the central corridors and frightened the Giallorossi in the 71st minute when Ferguson went down in the box. The Var confirms the choice of the referee Santoro, Matic’s intervention is not a foul. Ferguson is booked for simulation, Thiago Motta for protests.

Dybala, grimace of pain. Abraham inconclusive but decisive…

The substitutions and the move to a more offensive formation didn’t allow Bologna to draw, the Giallorossi fort resisted. But Mourinho now has a lot to worry about, in addition to his lackluster performance. Dybala, who came out in the 78th minute, sat on the bench showing himself in pain to the cameras: the next few hours will help us understand if the Argentine has accused muscle problems or if it was just a blow. And then Abraham, who deserved the applause only for having saved a goal on the line in the 95th minute after a header by Lucumi. Roma beat Bologna, but Mourinho had imagined a much better start to the new year.

The scoreboard of Rome-Bologna
Roma 1 6′ pt pen. Pilgrims
Bologna 0
ROME (3-5-2): Rui Patricio – Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez – Celik, Cristante, Pellegrini, Tahirovic (19′ Matic), El Shaarawy (19′ Zalewski) – Zaniolo (15′ st Abraham), Dybala (28 ‘st Ox). All. Foti.
BOLOGNA (4-1-4-1): Skorupski – Posch (37′ Pyyhtià), Soumaoro, Lucumi, Lykogiannis (20′ Cambiaso) – Medel (20′ Schouten) – Orsolini, Ferguson, Dominguez, Soriano (12′ st Aebischer ) – Arnautovic. Coach Thiago Motta.
Referee: Santoro.
Notes: Ibanez, Ferguson, Thiago Motta, Celik, Aebischer and Dominguez booked. Spectators: 62,092.