It’s been a long pre-season build-up but we’re nearly there now. Roma kick off their Serie A campaign away to Verona in just six days’ time, with the Giallorossi’s curtain-raiser set for a 18:00 CEST kick-off on Saturday August 22.
Starting in Pinzolo in early July, the Giallorossi ended their schedule of summer friendlies on a high with a six-goal haul against Sevilla on Opening Day last Friday. Here we take a look back at how Roma have fared in the last month and a half of pre-season preparations.
The first friendly of 2015-16, played in Trentino with heavy legs after an intense first week of training, saw the Giallorossi lose 2-1 to Hungarian outfit Gyirmot Gyor, Mattia Destro netting in the second half. The best news of the day was Leandro Castan’s return to the pitch after his long spell on the sidelines.
After blowing away the summer cobwebs with their training camp in the mountains, Roma set off to the other side of the globe to take part in the International Champions Cup Australia, with two prestigious encounters against top-class opposition at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Real Madrid were first up on July 18. After a goalless 90 minutes, Morgan De Sanctis proved to be the spot-kick hero, turning away Lucas Vazquez’s effort before Seydou Keita fired home the shootout winner.
The second ICC match was against Manchester City on July 21 and it ignited into life almost instantly as the Citizens’ record signing Raheem Sterling broke his City duck three minutes into his debut and Miralem Pjanic leveled the scores five minutes later with a cracking strike from range. Manuel Pellegrini’s side restored their lead through Kalechi Iheanacho in the 52nd minute before Adem Ljajic equalized with beautifully struck free kick in the 87th. Another penalty shootout loomed but there was to be a different outcome this time, as Seydou Doumbia and Keita missed from 12 yards, handing victory to the English side.
Before heading back to Europe, Roma stopped off in Jakarta for their historic first-ever visit to Indonesia. 25,000 fans poured into the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium to see two Giallorossi sides face off in an exhibition match. Keita opened the scoring for the Whites, before Francesco Totti and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa turned the tables and the Reds ran out 2-1 victors.
After Indonesia Day, Roma returned to the capital to prepare for yet more friendlies against prestigious opposition. The first of these saw the Giallorossi travel to Lisbon’s Estadio José Alvalade for the Cinco Violinos Trophy against Sporting Club de Portugal. The hosts won it 2-0 but a positive note was Wojciech Szczesny making his debut for the club when he replaced De Sanctis at half time.
On August 5 Roma visited the Camp Nou to compete in the 50th Gamper Trophy against the reigning Champions League winners. Goals by Neymar, Leo Messi and Ivan Rakitic helped Barcelona to a 3-0 success.
If that was the low point of the pre-season, things certainly picked up afterwards. On August 8 the Giallorossi took on Valencia at the Estadio Mestalla for the 44th edition of the Orange Trophy and new boy Mohamed Salah wasted no time in making his mark on his debut appearance, grabbing the opener nine minutes into the game. Roma’s advantage was doubled on 24 minutes when a nicely worked team move was finished off by Totti. Valencia reduced the arrears through Sofiane Feghouli on the half-hour mark but Gervinho then completed the scoring ten minutes into the second period with a neat angled effort after being played in by the Capitano: 1-3 the final score.
Having spent the best part of a month traveling around the world, Roma were back home on August 14 for Opening Day. After being presented to the fans, they took to the field for their first game of 2015-16 in front of the Olimpico faithful. And a breathtaking encounter it turned out to be too, with the lucky supporters treated to a ten-goal feast. Edin Dzeko quickly endeared himself to the locals as he helped himself to a brace, while Vasileios Torosidis, Radja Nainggolan, Salah and Totti also chipped in and the Giallorossi raced into a 6-0 lead inside 63 minutes, before the Spaniards reduced the deficit late on.
Of course all that was only the warm-up for the real action, which kicks off next weekend. The first three points of 2015-16 are on the line at the Stadio Bentegodi and Rudi Garcia’s men want to get them up on the board. Kick-off is at 18:00 CEST on Saturday August 22. The countdown is on!
asroma.it