Four Things We Learned: Zaniolo provides the spark against Milan

Roma bounce back in style

Roma responded to their Coppa Italia exit by producing a much better showing against AC Milan. Although they couldn't take home all three points, they did extend their unbeaten run in the league to five matches and outplay their fourth placed opponents for large spells.

On another night, Roma could've easily triumphed - in a match where they outperformed their opponents in expected goals 1.76 to to 0.78 and outshot them 17 to eight.

Speaking after the contest, Eusebio Di Francesco was much happier with his players attitude and output after a trying week at the office.

“We’ve not done anything yet, but the performance itself was a positive response. We wanted to get the three points – they would have been crucial," he stated.

“From my point of view, however, they showed good character and I hope this can be a springboard, without making big mistakes again. You can lose games, but performances are what make the difference.”

Roma stifle Milan through their pressing

Di Francesco devised a calculated pressing plan to hinder Milan's attempts to build out from the back, as they effectively covered options, their opponents and pass lanes.

Roma would usually be content to let the Rossoneri's central defenders start off with the ball, but once they got to within 45 yards from the Roma goal, they would look to press the away side. Although there were some nice alterations like when they'd press very high when a backpass was played back to the keeper, the setup they predominantly used was as follows.

Roma's fullbacks and wingers would mark their opposite numbers to begin with. Edin Dzeko would mostly look to cover Milan's deepest midfielder, Tiemoue Bakayoko, while Roma's holder Daniele De Rossi would smartly cover space to pick up any advancing opponents, plus be ready to press or drop back.

The really interesting aspect was the approach of Roma's two higher central midfielders, however, who would look to aggressively step forward to press the ball side Milan central defender to funnel them wide and compress their options. In doing so, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolo Zaniolo, did a super job of blocking the pass lanes to their nominal markers, Lucas Paqueta and Franck Kessie, with their cover shadow.

While there was obviously some risk attached to this by leaving space behind them, their execution was typically spot on to disrupt their adversaries. Vitally; if a Milan midfielder pushed up, Daniele De Dossi or one of Roma's centre halves, who wasn't marking Krzysztof Piatek would track them.

Furthermore, the intermediate positioning of Roma's wingers often notably gave them access to either a central midfielder or their direct opponent, to add some extra protection to their strategy.

De Rossi's presence massive

The return of De Rossi to the starting lineup seemed to give the home side a real lift. Providing vital experience, determination and leadership, his presence had a calming and confidence boosting influence on the side, as he helped set the tone wonderfully for what was a sterling showing.

Giving the Giallorossi control in midfield, he passed the ball out from the back brilliantly, switched the angle of attacks and hit some penetrative line breaking balls straight through the Milan stopping structure.

Able to orchestrate so many of Roma's best passing phases with his execution, but also his cunning movement, his influence was keenly felt throughout.

By the numbers, his two progressive runs, eight accurate passes into the final third, nine successful long balls and the fact he completed 50 of his 59 overall attempted passes (at a completion rate of 84.75%) evidenced his quality suitably.

Zaniolo masterful again

Illustrating yet again why his versatility gives Di Francesco so much tactical flexibility as to how best deploy him, Zaniolo continued his fantastic season by putting in a terrific shift from his central midfield station.

Aside from scoring the equaliser, which made him the youngest player in Roma's history to score three league goals for the club since Francesco Totti, the Italian's energy, intensity, physicality and intelligent movement was also key.

As mentioned above, he undertook his defensive responsibilities with aplomb, pressing vigorously as he got at his opponents to regularly force a turnover or an unclean action. Never shy in the tackle, he imposed himself on his foes using his strength, speed and ferocity, with him causing plenty of discomfort to Gennaro Gattuso's men.

On the attacking end, his dynamism, in combination with his ability to identify vacant space, saw him frequently present as a viable outlet for his colleagues. Whether performing smooth rotations with left winger, Alessandro Florenzi, aiding build up or taking up positions to the side of Bakayoko in between the lines, he did a top of unbalancing his opposition with his aptitude in this regard.

A major driving force on both sides of the ball once more, Zaniolo's impressive campaign is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

All statistics provided by InStat.