Changes are needed to avoid painful results, or rather, to get back to scoring with an attack that’s currently struggling to get past Malen.
Gian Piero Gasperini is looking for new attacking solutions at a stage of the season where the attacking line continues to be in dire straits.
If in the first half of the season the main problem was the lack of a striker capable of finishing the team’s play, today the difficulty seems to be another: playable balls for the attackers.
At Marassi, Malen often appeared isolated, without the support of his teammates.
Above all, what Gasperini had called “the perfect connection” with Paulo Dybala, who has been absent for some time, has been lacking.
Matías Soulé will also be unavailable for tomorrow’s Europa League round of 16 first leg against Bologna.
It’s a crucial match, just like Sunday’s against Como, and Gasperini is also ready to partially modify his playing system. The idea is to bring Bryan Cristante back into a more advanced position, a solution already seen in the second half against Genoa.
With Lorenzo Pellegrini rejected and Lorenzo Venturino excluded from the UEFA list, the options are limited.
Cristante’s experience could prove a valuable asset in providing balance and presence between the lines, especially considering the attacking numbers: among the five players available, Gasperini has only managed five goals overall. A situation that Malen has only partially addressed, and which inevitably brings attention back to transfer decisions.
The coach had insisted on the arrival of a ready-made left-back, but sporting director Ricky Massara failed to secure the initial targets, and Bryan Zaragoza ultimately arrived.
The Spaniard remains the leading candidate to partner Cristante in the attacking midfield against Bologna, although he has so far failed to fully convince. This is more of a choice dictated by circumstances than a true technical certainty.
In midfield, El Aynaoui could partner Pisilli, allowing Manu Koné to rest after the fatigue of recent weeks: the Frenchman appeared visibly tired last Sunday.
For Gasperini, it’s time for emergency solutions. Because between the Europa League and the league, Roma is playing for a huge chunk of their season in just a few days.
