The current course may not be the best one for AS Roma to take if they want to advance to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League next season.
Associazione Sportiva Roma is the official name of Roma’s sports club. Roma is an Italian professional football club based in the capital city, which was also one of the favorite teams of the bettors at LeoVegas sports betting. Since its inception in 1927, the club has been one of the most successful in Italian football, winning three Serie A championships, nine Coppa Italia championships, and two Supercoppa Italiana championships. The team’s home field is the shared Stadio Olimpico between them and their city rivals, Lazio.
The Roma faithful are famed for their enthusiasm and the team’s maroon and gold home jersey. Former players like Gabriel Batistuta, Francesco Totti, Paulo Roberto Falcao, and Daniele De Rossi are household names at this point.
Under Jose Mourinho, the Giallorossi won the UEFA Conference League in 2021–22, and they have proceeded to the Europa League final, which might provide yet another path to UCL qualifying should they go on to win the cup. Recent contradictions, however, are cause for alarm.
The Giallorossi were looking to bounce back from a surprise loss on the road to Cremonese with a big win against Juventus. Despite being fifth, AS Roma’s potential momentum was derailed when they lost 4-3 at home to Sassuolo in a match that featured seven goals. Due to his two-game suspension after being shown the red card for complaining to the fourth official during the second half against Cremonese, coach Jose Mourinho was not present in the dugout.
As a result, the team has chosen to silence any media inquiries until after the upcoming international break. Mourinho’s absence likely exacerbated the team’s lack of composure against Sassuolo, as Marash Kumbulla was sent off for kicking striker Domenico Berardi.
Roma went into halftime down 2-1 after a goal by Nicola Zalewski but finished up down 3-1 after Armand Lauriente scored twice and Berardi converted a penalty. The pressure seemed to be on Sassuolo after Paulo Dybala scored, but former Inter striker Andrea Pinamonti struck for the visitors. Even though Gini Wijnaldum scored late, it was not enough to prevent the eventual loss.
To make the playoffs, AS Roma must improve in the finer points of their play, which are typically the deciding factors. Atalanta lost to Napoli, Inter lost to Spezia, and Lazio drew at Bologna this weekend, all of which hurt their chances of finishing in the top four. While AS Roma was heavily favored to win, they wasted a golden opportunity. The capital team is still running for a Champions League berth, but they need more discipline in the standings.
Three times in less than a month, they’ve given up points to teams in the league’s lower half. The forthcoming stretch against Lazio, Milan, Inter, and Atalanta will show if they have improved and deserve UCL qualifying!
