BOLOGNA 2-2 ROMA, FULLTIME n.67

Our record against Bologna – Bologna prevented Roma from securing a third straight win in all competitions, a run that the Giallorossi are yet to achieve this term. Barcelona (1-1), Bayer Leverkusen (4-4) and Inter (1-0 to the Nerazzurri in Milan) previously played party poopers after two consecutive Roma victories. The Giallorossi are now unbeaten in their last four games against the Rossoblu, winning two and drawing the same number. The draw at the Dall’Ara was Roma’s 45th from 144 meetings with Bologna and the 21st time a match has ended level from the 72 played in Emilia.

In league terms, that was Roma’s 20th draw at Bologna from a total of 69 games (68 in Serie A and one in the 1927-28 Divisione Nazionale). Bologna traditionally provide a stern test for the Giallorossi. In Serie A, Roma have a similar record against the side from the Emilia to the one they have against Napoli. Roma have recorded 18 wins, 20 draws and 30 losses against Bologna, while their record from matches with the Partenopei stands at 17 victories, 20 draws and 31 defeats.

The last 2-2 in Bologna came in 1972 – Yesterday’s match was the ninth time the sides have drawn 2-2, with eight coming in the league and one at the Olimpico in the Coppa Italia in 1987. It finished 2-2 at the Rossoblu on 9 April 1933 (goals from Rodolfo Volk and Raffaele Constantino), 12 October 1947 (strikes from Argentine pair Osvaldo Peretti and Bruno Pesaola) and 16 April 1972 (Liborio Liguori and Renato Cappellini). That was the first time Roma have come away with at least a point from a Week 13 encounter with Bologna (the Giallorossi had lost the previous three meetings – all away – in 1938, 1961 and 1999). The side from the capital continued their rich vein of goalscoring form against the Rossoblu. Roma have found the net in each of their last 25 matches against Bologna, scoring a total of 51 goals.

Pjanic’s personal best – Miralem Pjanic’s eight goals this season make him Roma’s top scorer. Currently on his most prolific run since joining the club, the Bosnian midfielder took his tally to 26 goals in all competitions for Roma, drawing level with Gervinho, Brazilian Paulo Sergio and Argentine Alejandro Scopelli in 48th place on the Giallorossi’s all-time top scorers chart. Pjanic is now just a solitary strike behind stars of Roma’s first two league titles, Aristide Coscia and Paulo Roberto Falcao.

Streak – Edin Dzeko has found the net in his last three appearances for Roma in all competitions, taking his total to four goals for the Giallorossi. Two of those have come from open play, while the other half have come from the penalty spot. The Bosnian becomes the third Roma player to score for three games running this term, after Mohamed Salah and Gervinho.

Comeback – For the second time this season, Roma came from behind to lead but only managed one point. They previously did so at Bayer Leverkusen. The Bologna game was also the only time Rudi Garcia’s side have led by a single goal this term. Roma have fallen behind in eight matches this season, collecting five draws (Hellas Verona, Barcelona, Sassuolo, Bayer Leverkusen and Bologna) and three defeats (Sampdoria, BATE Borisov and Inter). At Bologna, the Giallorossi conceded in the 15-minute period in which they’re most frugal (none in the opening quarter of an hour in the first 12 league games) and in their shakiest moment of the match (that’s now six against in minutes 75-90). Thus far this season, Roma have conceded just twice in the first 30 minutes, one fewer than last term.

Welcome Sadiq – Sadiq Umar made his first-team debut as a late substitute against Bologna. The Primavera forward, 18, becomes the third Nigerian to represent the Giallorossi in competitive action after Akande Ajide (one appearance) and Adwale Wahab (four games). Sadiq is the 11th player to make his debut this season after Szczesny, Salah, Dzeko, Falque, Digne, Rudiger, Vainqueur, Soleri, Gyomber and Emerson Palmieri.

Florenzi 142 – Alessandro Florenzi’s appearance against Bologna was his 142nd for the club, taking him past Matteo Brighi, who was on the opposite side at the Dall’Ara. As he heads towards 150 matches, Florenzi can draw level with Renato Bodini if he plays against Barcelona. That’s now 121 league games for the Giallorossi man, which takes him alongside Antonio Tempestilli.

Twice from 12 yards – Roma hadn’t scored two penalties in the same match since a 2-2 draw at home to Cagliari on 5 May 2012 (two goals from Francesco Totti).

Source:   asroma.it