Bryan Cristante’s sweet strike settles dominating victory in Salernitana #1524

A.S Roma 1 Salernitana 0FT

Italian football is officially back as the league kicked off its action on Saturday with Milan’s Impressive win over Udinesse, while Inter won late at Lecce. On Sunday, in the prime time slot on Sunday evening, We focused our eyes on Campania, the home of Salernitana, opening up their door to a new look and recently rejuvenated Roma as Jose Mourinho and a very different team come to town to kick off the new season. Salernitana went on a huge run going unbeaten in 10 games before facing defeat at the end of the season. Their performance at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma energized the run that saw them stay up. So there’s some irony in the two sides meeting each other on an opening day. The seahorses and their supporters make noise before kickoff with huge flags being waived with Roma supporters in loads; the Italian adventure began as kicked-off approached.

Jose Mourinho, over the summer, built a new bolstered squad ahead of the campaign. Roma came out of a similar formation with slight modification for the opening game. Paulo Dybala into the starting 11 while other signings Gini Wijnaldum and Nemanja Matic started on the bench. In addition to that, Leo spinazzola got his first start in a year. Roma looked electric and well-balanced from the very beginning as they wasted. No time asserting their control within the game. They carved open the seahorses in the opening minutes and nearly managed to cash in on the opportunity with Nicolo Zaniolo playing in as Roma got an early break. The young Italian moved extremely well to collect the ball driving towards the goal but mismanaged the chance as his strike on goal pulled to the right. The youngster certainly should have had a goal at that moment. Five minutes later, he’d be given another opportunity collecting the ball inside the box before Nicolo Zaniolo tried to direct his strike at Luigi Pepe, who managed to make the save after being put through by Gianluca Mancini. Roma was showing their dominance in the early parts of the game with two golden chances to kick things off. There was just a sense that more opportunities would come, and eventually, they would break through it, on the corner. Roger Ibanez caught the Lorenzo Pellegrini cross. He got on the end of it but fired it a bit wide as the seahorses could breathe again. In the opening sequence of the game and how it was evolving, We saw Paolo Dybala show his qualities. Even in the early parts of the game, it’s clear that he will bring a lot to this team that already has significant quality. There was a sequence he dribbled through to midfielders before pushing the ball forward into a counter-attack. It was little subtle things at the start that showed the element of dimension that he adds. Salernitana occasionally broke into Roma’s dangerous area, but the Roma defense kept them at arm’s length; they were difficult to break down. They had an initial shot blocked by the Roma backline before Federico Bonazzoli tested Rui Patricio. The Portuguese shot-stopper manages to make the safe but spills in front of him as he collects. We saw Roma cut through the middle through Lorenzo Pellegrini before spreading it out to the wingbacks in this setup. Leo spinazzola showed that he still has that burst of energy as he was thriving on that left side, posing a problem. In addition to Roma’s ball movement and control over the game, it was a bit physical for long stretches. Many players were thrown to the ground as it was certainly a battle between the two. Roma won a free kick just outside the box. As Paolo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, both stepped over it. Lorenzo Pellegrini is arguably the best free taker in the league, having scored on three last season. However, Dybala is one of the league’s best as well. Giving Roma potentially a problem but also a good problem to have. Both. Paolo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini stepped up to it. It was the Argentine that took the attempt. Well, hit just a few inches away from on-target, landing on the top of the goal. Roma continued to push the momentum and the energy, and eventually, they got themselves into a marvelous opportunity again. Tammy Abraham to Paulo Dybala, who put Nicolo Zaniolo in perfect position, but the youngster again missed a golden chance from very close range in what should have been potentially the game's second goal. It is the first game of the season, and we know his talent throughout the game. He was quite sensational throughout, but he’s got to do better. Simple as that. However, it wouldn’t be too long before their moment would come. In the 33rd minute, Roma broke the deadlock as their goal that has been coming finally came to fruition. Nicolo Zaniolo finds Lorenzo Pellegrini inside the box; the Roma captain turns to fire a strike at the goal. It was blocked by the defense, leaving it for Tammy Abraham to strike on goal blocked again. Ultimately falling to Bryan cristante, A player I’ve often described as an unsung hero of this Roman team. The midfielder steps up and follows through, taking a slight touch before rolling into the bottom corner as Roma takes a 1–0 lead.

Bryan Cristane strike from deep gives Roma their deserving lead in Campania.

It had been coming for a while. Roma probably should have scored already, but Cristante comes up big and scores the goal they needed. The seahorses try to sting back as a fire a shot but do not test Rui Patricio firing wide. Shortly after, Roma looked for another when Pablo Dybala sent a cross meeting Tammy Abraham's head. The Englishman follows through but slightly misses the target. Then the moment we all have waited for nearly happened. Zaniolo put through Paulo Dybala in a one-on-one. The Argentine playmaker struck it nearly perfectly, going for the left corner but unfortunately hit the post in what could have been Roma’s second. Salernitana, in the final second of the first half, fires a shot at Rui Patricio, but the shot-stopper grabs it with no hesitation. After 45 minutes. Roma holds a 1–0 lead thanks to the Bryan cristante strike in a very controlled first-half performance.

Paulo Dybala shows some silky skills in the first half as he leaves Lassana Coulibaly is the distance

An impressive performance from Roma this far. You can already see the differences between this side and the one from the last campaign. The early misses from Zaniolo. Essentially the only reason it is still competitive. They controlled and dictated the first half with command. The second half kicked off, and the seahorses attempted to go a little aggressive as they took two surefire strikes on goal but unfortunately for them, the Roma defense got in the way. Followed by Federico Fazio putting his head through on a cross but not on target as Patricio didn’t hesitate. Salernitana went to their bench bringing on Franck Ribery. Roma still had control over the game and looked for a second goal. They created a lot of chances to put them in dangerous positions. Largely using the left side of Leo spinazzola showing wicked pace on that side. Bring a ball up towards Paulo Dybala The Argentine had a few inches to but was pushed into a difficult situation as he strikes from a complicated angle. Not quite having the touch necessary. No one else was there. He was alone on an island and failed to get a good look. However, Roma’s attacking football only continued. Just minutes later. Rick Karsdorp supplies a brilliant ball into the box as Lorenzo Pellegrini strikes from close range, but Luigi Pepe manages to collect it in the bottom corner. The seahorses made a pair of changes to try to swing the game's momentum. One of them is Diego Valencia. They’re signing from South America getting his first minutes in Serie A.Ticks later, Dybala again, at a difficult angle, tries to propel a shot into the right corner. Good touch, but it hits the side netting. Roma just continued to push for another goal. This time. Paulo Dybala put in a good ball towards Nicolo Zaniolo. The youngster has taken a few poor looks in front of the goal, but this one had a stinger on it. He pulls up from outside the box with a vicious strike, but it curls to the right at the last minute, banging against the boards behind the goal. That one was his best of all the touches he’s taken in the match. Jose Mourinho would go to his bench for the first time. Bringing in Nemanja Matic as he joined for free from Manchester United early in the summer. Despite his age, he brought the right kind of energy. I thought he would. Move the ball well and communicated with his teammates. Seem to be on the same page with everyone constantly. This is what impressed me the most about his performance, mainly because he has only played a couple of preseason games with the club and has not had that much time with his new teammates. Salernitana got on the break occasionally when Roma was pushing forward, but The defense was able to deal with it. Periodically they attempted to strike, but like most of the game, Patricio didn’t have much to do. As we got a bit deeper into the second half, Roma changed as Zaniolo would come out; replacing him would be a new signing. Gini Wijnaldum liked what he brought when he came on.

Gini and Matic come off the bench late on to make their debut in their new colors.

Even though he got a yellow card immediately, he looked strong. Roma eventually slowed down the play as they were in control. At the very end. Stephan El Shaarawy was brought on as Mou leaves two subs unused. At the very end of the match, Roman nearly got themselves a second. Rick Karsdorp picked off a poor pass from the midfield. The flying Dutchman on a break cut into the box in a one-on-one situation, but his attempt at goal hit the left post as it went out. Just moments later, the referee load for the full-time whistle. Roma opened their season with a clean sheet and three points as Roma dealt with Salernitana, earning a 1–0 victory.

Truly excellent performance to start the new campaign. Roma mutually dominated and had control from the start. They looked extremely comfortable in the ball. They moved quickly, opening up passing lanes, and looked good on the counter. The finishing left something to be desired Zaniolo had two big chances at the beginning of the game that could have perhaps provided more goals in the opener. However, I’ve been highly critical of his behavior, and his performance outside the misses at the start of the game was terrific. Got into dangerous areas. Assess themselves was dangerous when he had control of the ball, and getting it off of him was difficult. He has to make better decisions in front of goal. However, the entire team performed an exceptional level. Paolo Dybala's hits the post shows his playmaking ability throughout the game and showed the type of difference maker he can be in the team. He even showed unselfishness on the disallowed goal allowing his teammate to stick it in the back of the net even though it doesn’t count. Leo Spinazzola returning to make his first start. He was terrific, constantly putting his teammates into counter-attacking situations while providing an awful lot from his own account. Tammy, Abraham, and Lorenzo Pellegrini were brilliant again together. I think Roma has something special with this side, especially what we saw in the first game. Gini and Matic come off the bench and fit right into what Roma was doing. Roma has a fantastic XI and immense quality coming off the bench. The defense tonight was rather attacking-minded, but I thought they handled themselves very well with the back three. Not putting themselves in bad situations. Even though the chances from the opposition were limited when they came, they prepared and were on their toes. However, tonight the man of the match was, Bryan Cristane does an incredible job finishing the chance and getting the only goal in the game. However, Bryan Cristane is a player that, even within Roman circles, doesn’t get the respect he deserves. The things he does not show up on the score sheet. You’re not going to see a lot of highlight real plays coming from him but the runs he makes, the spacing without the ball. He creates the tireless worker that he is. He has played nearly 200 games for the club and seems slandered every other day. But the truth is he gives more effort and energy to this team than almost anybody. He is an engine that goes all game long, and it’s the reason the intangible factor is why he continues to be such a vital part of this team. You think of all the midfielders that aren’t here anymore that Roma has since sold. Think about it. Most of them are more talented, but Bryan Cristane brings a certain level to this team that speaks more than talent. The efficiency of his game does not show up on the stat sheet. It was an all-around performance and a true world-class display. In terms of what he brought into the attack and the defense playing a true comprehensive role, It was in sensational performance from the entire team that Roma got on the right foot with the victory. That should give them confidence and momentum for their home opener next Sunday against another newly promoted side more times than not. You know what that means. Mourinho’s men start off with an exceptional display as Roma. Grab three points and clean sheet on their way out.

“I liked everything — even if I would’ve been more relaxed at 4–0 or 5–0 “But even so, I enjoyed watching a team that — even if they didn’t score the goals they should’ve done — had the maturity and know-how to see out the match.”

- Jose Mourinho