RIYAD (Saudi Arabia) – Friendly match in Saudi Arabia for the “new” Roma Daniele De Rossi, who beat Al-Shabab 2-1 in a long-planned test, when Mourinho was at the helm of the Giallorossi. In the championship, however, the Giallorossi will face Salernitana away next Monday.
21:30
Lukaku spoke in Riyadh
Romelu Lukaku spoke to Roma’s official channels after the friendly win over Al-Shabab in Riyadh: “Today it was important to win. For us there are no friendlies, we want to win every match, even in training we always want to win. We did it today too, it was a good test to see where we are. Starting tomorrow, when we return to Trigoria, we have to prepare for a difficult match that we will play on Monday“. On how the first days went with De Rossi, the Belgian striker explains: “Very good. I think we all have a responsibility to take Roma higher in the table and get as far as possible in the Europa League. This is our goal and we work towards this every day“.
21:20
The latest precedents with Salernitana
Roma will face Salernitana in the championship next Monday, at the Arechi stadium in Salerno. In the last two meetings with the Campania team, both at the Olimpico, the Giallorossi were held to a 2-2 draw: this season, on the first matchday (20 August), Belotti and Candreva were the protagonists with a brace each. The last match played in Salerno between the two teams saw Roma win 1-0 thanks to a goal from Cristante. The Campania team beat the Giallorossi only once in the championship, on 24 January 1999, with a score of 2-1, when Zeman was on the Roma bench.
21:10
Viña verse il Flamengo
The termination of Viña’s loan with Sassuolo is official: the Uruguayan winger returns to Roma to be sold to Flamengo in the next few days. READ THE NEWS
20:56
Roma Women’s team is also on the pitch
Roma Femminile also played today, held 2-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League. READ THE NEWS
20:41
There is a lead to Baldanzi
There is also a lead that could lead Baldanzi to Roma. READ THE NEWS
20:31
De Rossi awaits news from the market
In view of the closing of the winter transfer market, set for February 1st, De Rossi awaits new arrivals: in the last few hours Roma have approached the Spanish full-back Angelino. READ THE NEWS
20:10
There is also a banner for Mourinho in the stands
There was no shortage of Roma banners and flags in the stands this evening. One dedicated to Mourinho also popped up.
Al Shabab-Roma, one for Mourinho also appears among the banners
19:56
Roma’s next commitments
Roma will return to Italy tonight. The next matches for De Rossi’s team are the matches against Salernitana (away from home, next Monday), against Cagliari (Monday 5 February at the Olimpico), against Inter (Saturday 10 at the Olimpico) and against Feyenoord ( in the Europa League, Thursday 15th in Rotterdam).
19:47
Good performance for De Rossi’s Roma
All in all an interesting test for Roma, who played well against Al-Shabab, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from the young Joao Costa and Lukaku. Good test for De Rossi who brought in many young players and tried various tactical solutions, rotating many players in different roles.
19:40
THE MATCH ENDS: ROMA WINS 2-1
The match ends at the Al Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh: Roma wins the friendly match 2-1 against the hosts Al-Shabab.
19:35
90′ Four minutes of injury time
There will be four minutes of injury time in the match. Roma ahead 2-1.
19:33
88′ Carrasco still dangerous
New free kick taken by Carrasco: this time the trajectory is low, treacherous and ends up just wide with Boer diving.
19:31
86′ Two changes for Roma after the 2-1
De Rossi makes two more substitutions: Mannini and Reale come on and Zalewski and Kristensen come out. Both new entrants are 17 years old. Double substitution also among the Arabs: Al Showifi and Hurbush on the field instead of Al Qahtani and Al Yami.
19:30
85′ ROMA TAKES THE ADVANTAGE AGAIN WITH LUKAKU
Roma doubled their lead with Lukaku: long ball from Celik to the Belgian, who let the ball flow and struck with his left foot. Giallorossi lead 2-1 in Riyadh.
19:24
78′ MAGIC FROM CARRASCO’S FREE PENALTY: 1-1
Al-Shabab equalized thanks to a magnificent free kick from the Belgian Carrasco, who slipped the ball under the seven, going over the barrier. The new member Boer is not to blame. The scorer of the goal was an old obsession of Walter Sabatini, who had tried to bring him to Roma years ago.
19:21
75′ Three substitutions for Roma
De Rossi inserts Boer in place of Svilar and Bove in place of Pisilli. The 17 year old Nardozi is also on the pitch in place of Joao Costa.
19:19
73′ Boer and Bove ready
The third goalkeeper Boer and Bove are about to join Roma.
19:15
69′ Three substitutions for the hosts
Three changes for Al-Shabab: Al Joui, Carlos Junior and Al Sibyani enter in place of Al Saadi, Bahbri and Al Harbi.
19:12
66′ Al-Shabab one step away from a draw
The hosts were close to scoring after a blunder by Karsdorp: Carrasco went for a powerful shot almost with a certainty, but Svilar was very good at blocking it with open hands.
19:08
62′ Three substitutions for Roma
Pellegrini, Lukaku and Karsdorp join Roma in place of Paredes, Belotti and Llorente. Celik goes to play central defender next to Cristante.
19:00
54′ ROME GOAL WITH JOAO COSTA
Roma took the lead: insistent action by Zalewski on the left wing, cross in the middle of the area and sliding winning touch, right-footed, by 18-year-old Joao Costa, his first first team goal.
18:51
The second half is played
The second half has begun: Pagano is on the pitch for Roma in place of Golic. Cristante dropped back to play central in the back four. A substitution also among the hosts: there is Al Juwayr in place of Kanabah.
18:50
The teams are returning to the field
Al-Shabab and Roma are leaving the changing rooms to return to the pitch and play the second half.
18:35
The first half ends: fun match, but without goals
The first half ends in Riyadh: Al-Shabab and Roma are at 0-0. The match, which started at a slow pace, became livelier as the minutes passed.
18:33
45′ Botta in Celik
Powerful, but wide, conclusion from Celik. There will be one minute of injury time in the first half.
18:31
43′ Roma very close to scoring
Corner kick action: close-range right-footed shot from Joao Costa and a great diving response from the Arab goalkeeper Al Absi, who deflects it wide.
18:24
36′ Paredes tries on a penalty
Free kick awarded for a foul on Joao Costa: Paredes shoots from 20 metres, high ball.
18:21
33′ Golic is booked
First yellow card of the match: the 17-year-old Giallorossi defender Golic is booked for a tactical foul on Carrasco.
18:13
26′ Opportunity for Roma
Down the right by Celik, who crosses to the center for Belotti: header high over Al Absi’s crossbar by the Giallorossi number 11.
18:10
23′ Belotti makes it
Only a little fear and a light blow for Belotti, who, treated by the Giallorossi doctors, was able to continue the match.
Fear for Belotti: the goalkeeper’s foul is very harsh
18:08
21′ Clash between Belotti and the opposing goalkeeper
Long throw for Belotti who, thrown towards the net, collides with the opposing goalkeeper Al Absi. The Al-Shabab full-back intervened on the ball, with his foot, in the midfield, overwhelming the Roma attacker, who remained on the ground for a couple of minutes.
17:58
11′ Opportunity for the Arabs
Al-Shabab’s offensive sortie takes advantage of a defensive mix-up by Roma: Svilar averts the danger by coming out ahead of Bahebri, a few steps from the Giallorossi’s goal.
17:57
10′ Roma have the initiative: opportunity for Belotti
Ball possession for De Rossi’s Roma, lined up with a 4-3-3. The pace, so far, is quite low. Belotti, served by Paredes, misses the goal with a diagonal shot from an excellent position: the ball grazes the post.
17:47
Kick-off: the game begins
Referee Mohamed Alharbi gives the starting whistle for the match between Al-Shabab and Roma.
17:46
Teams on the field
Lineups on the pitch ready for kick-off.
Al Shabab-Roma, warm-up: few spectators in the stands in Riyadh
17:37
There are no Dybala and Mancini
De Rossi left Dybala, Mancini and Huijsen at home, not in the best physical condition. Many Primavera players have been called up for today’s match: the Slovenian central defender Lovro Golic, the midfielder Niccolò Pisilli, who has been joining the first team for some time under Mourinho, and the Brazilian striker with a Portuguese passport are the starters. Joao Costawho is also already included among the greats.
17:29
Teams on the field, very few spectators
Teams on the pitch for pre-match warm-ups: for now, there are very few spectators in the stands, which are largely empty. It is played in the same facility that hosted the three matches of the recent Italian Super Cup, won by Inter. PHOTO BY CORRESPONDENT ANTONIO GIORDANO
17:21
Roma’s official lineup
Here is the official lineup chosen by De Rossi: Svilar; Celik, Golic, Llorente, Kristensen; Cristante, Paredes, Pisilli; Zalewski, Belotti, Joao Costa.
17:16
The official formation of Al-Shabab
This is the official lineup of the Arabs, coached by the Croatian Igor Biscan: Al Absi; Al Yami, Al Sharari, Santos, Al Harbi; Al Qahtani, Cuellar, Kanabah; Bahebri, Al Sadi, Carrasco (captain).
17:10
Because the friendly match is being played
The friendly match between the Giallorossi and the Arab team, which plays in the Saudi Pro League, is included in the mega-event Riyadh Season, official sponsor of Roma this season.
17:01
Kick-off at 5.45pm
In just under three quarters of an hour the friendly match between Al-Shabab and Roma will begin, with kick-off at 5.45pm.
Al Awwal Park Stadium, Riyad (Arabia Saudita)