Four Things We Learned: Rotation doesn't hurt as Roma tune up for Chelsea

Perfect warm up for Chelsea clash

After making six changes for Roma's 1-0 midweek win over Crotone, Eusebio Di Francesco made a whopping eight alterations to his team for the clash with Bologna. Despite all this, his team yet again did him proud by securing another vital 1-0 victory, while importantly keeping their seventh clean sheet in 10 Serie A games.

With Chelsea coming up next in the Champions League, the extensive rotation should mean Di Francesco has plenty of fresh and in-form players to choose from for what could be a decisive clash.

Set piece threat added

Having been unable to score a goal from a corner this season, Roma finally broke their duck when Stephan El Shaarawy sublimely finished home Lorenzo Pellegrini's well struck 33rd minute set piece.

With Roma's big men such as Federico Fazio, Edin Dzeko and Juan Jesus drawing the Bologna defence centrally, and Simone Verdi slow to react to El Shaarawy's cunning far post movement, El Shaarawy beautifully pounced to finish home the well executed routine with a wicked one time finish.

"I'd pointed out that in Serie A and the Champions League we'd taken 78 corners without scoring. I wanted a goal from a corner and I got one today," explained a happy Di Francesco.

Defensive structure stands strong

While Bologna's dangerous frontline that consisted of Federico Di Francesco (the son of Roma's manager), Bruno Petkovic and the electric Verdi had some promising moments, the Giallorossi backline held up well. Indeed, the way the defensive unit kept their defensive line high, remained connected, supported each other manfully and applied some brilliant pressure to their opponents, especially when their man dropped deep, saw them successfully blunt their adversaries for the most part.

The image below shows Roma's well organised structure and how the whole team played their part in blocking off passing lanes and stuck to their marking responsibilities, in a match where they condensed the pitch wonderfully to limit the space they afforded the Rossoblu to play into.

Wingers support Dzeko effectively

The roles of Roma's wingers, El Shaarawy and Gregoire Defrel, in supporting striker Dzeko were crucial in guaranteeing the big Bosnian was never isolated. By venturing infield into their respective half spaces, Dzeko had ideal options to drop deep and link play with the usually nearby duo, who were crucially facing forward and could receive from Dzeko and run directly at the stagnant defence.

The graphic underneath demonstrates how well the tactic worked, with all three men connected. On this occasion, though, Dzeko's positioning occupies two defenders, thus leaving oceans of space for El Shaarawy to receive from Defrel and be put clean through on goal.