AS Roma vs AC Cesena Match Preview
Cesena return to Serie A after ninenteen years only to face a tough opening task against Roma.
Roma take on newly promoted Cesena at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday without their new summer signing Adriano, who is sidelined with a thigh injury. The Brazilian striker, who is trying to revive his career on the European stage after a successful spell at Flamengo, injured himself during training. His absence means that once again Francesco Totti will be the man to lead the Roma attack. Cesena return to Serie A after nineteen years and already have a tall task in facing Roma. A draw would be a respectable return for them.
Roma’s summer has been plagued by financial worries. Rosella Sensi, the president, has long professed her love for Roma, but the club’s transfer budget has been inadequate in recent years. True, 28-year-old Adriano represents a step in the right direction, but the problems persist. Gone are the days when Roma could boast an attacking line-up with stars like Gabriel Batistuta.
Roma will start Totti behind Mirko Vucinic and Daniele De Rossi will orchestrate the midfield. After an indifferent World Cup, during which he seemed to have forgotten how to pass, De Rossi will be looking to get Roma started on the right foot. He is widely considered to be the next Roma symbol, and has already turned down lucrative offers from the likes of Real Madrid to stay at his beloved Roma. Roma know that a win will be crucial in order to begin the process of knocking Inter from their perch. The Nerazzurri have made a habit of edging Roma to the prize in recent seasons.
Cesena are a relatively unknown quantity in Serie A, and must be, at this stage, favourites for the drop back into Serie B. They have the talent of midfielder Stephen Appiah on which to rely, but will find it nearly impossible to stop Roma.
The Giallorossi should win this 2-0, meaning that their campaign will get off to the perfect start.
AS Roma vs AC Cesena Match Report
Cesena frustrated Roma for 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw at the Olimpico. Widely tipped to succumb to Roma, Cesena instead proved tenacious, with goalkeeper Antonioli, a former Roma player, making brilliant saves, particularly in the 71st minute when he blocked a Mirko Vucinic shot from close range. That save came only a second after he had thwarted a Rodrigo Taddei shot.
For all of Roma's approach play, they lacked the accuracy in the final third. Despite being outmatched for the large part, Cesena could have even stolen the match, but Bogdani's lobbed effort narrowly missed the target.
For Roma, it was a missed opportunity, while Cesena had pulled off a fantastic result. Roma coach Claudio Ranieri lamented the fact that Roma made life unnecessarily complex for themselves, rather than
going for the simpler options. It is ties like these that mean the difference in the final equation, and Roma missed two very important points at home to Cesena.
- Hasan Saiyid
