Opinion: Analysing the tactical tweaks on show against Real Madrid

Positive preseason continues

Roma continued their solid pre-season form with a win over Real Madrid on penalties at the Stadio Olimpico after the game finished 2-2 after 90 minutes.

The result sees Roma remain undefeated from their five official friendlies, as their preparations for the new campaign under Paulo Fonseca have thrown up plenty of positives.

Scoring another two to take their tally to 13 goals from their warm-up matches, their offensive game in particular produced many promising passages to put Zinedine Zidane's outfit under persistent pressure.

While Fonseca knows there's still plenty of fine tuning to do before the season begins, he cut a content figure in his post match comments, where he praised his team's fighting spirit and highlighted their improvement in adapting to his methods.

"I’m really pleased with the performance from the team," he said.

"We created a lot of chances in the first half. The thing that struck me the most was the bravery the team showed – the bravery to be themselves and try to play their own game even against Real Madrid.

"There is a lot of progress there – you can see that the team is working collectively. We definitely still need to change a few things, but I can see that the players are open to that change.”

Perotti movement key

Granted the freedom to venture infield, drop deep and generally help provide an outlet to connect attacking forays from his left wing post, Diego Perotti's movement was a crucial component for Roma. With Real Madrid pressing in a man-oriented fashion, the way the Argentine identified when to drop deep during build up was vital.

This saw him act as the free man on many occasions to receive unimpeded, as Madrid's central defenders typically weren't willing to follow him deep so they didn't jeopardise their last line structure.

Perotti's positional sense also bore fruit when he supported wide attacks and when drifting in between the lines or into true central midfield locations. So good at recognising where he could create ideal 5v4 or 4v3 overloads, the skillful attacker's smarts ensured Roma frequently beat the press to progress upfield.

Offensive Rotations wreak havoc

Roma's shrewd rotations in and around the final third have been a feature of Fonseca's tactics throughout pre-season. And against Los Merengues this was no different. Playing in what was ostensibly a 4-2-3-1 formation, that took on varying forms like a 4-2-2-2 and a 4-2-4, the Giallorossi's positional interchanges did a fine job of disrupting Madrid's structure.

With Roma's front four situated near to one another to play quick combinations and to pose questions on who should mark who, their rotations only compounded issues for Los Blancos. Their complementary movement constantly unbalanced their foes, as Edin Dzeko, Nicolo Zaniolo, Cengiz Under and Perotti, plus the fullbacks and central midfielders at times, executed slick switches of position.

Whether manufacturing openings in the channels, in behind the defence, in the 10 spaces or out wide, their movement effectively opened up spaces to exploit.

Developing their understanding with one another with every passing match and training session, this aspect of their play will be fascinating to keep an eye on.

Roma's effective press

Facing off against Real Madrid's initial 5-3-2 formation, Fonseca implemented an effective pressing strategy to combat this. Well-organised and compact, Roma blocked off passing routes admirably to force many turnovers and errors with their harrying.

Their first line structure began with Dzeko on Raphael Varane, Cengiz on Nacho and Perotti on Eder Militao.

Zaniolo would then track holder Casemiro while Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante would monitor Federico Valverde and Luka Modric.

To further complicate things for the away side, Roma's fullbacks would press Madrid's wingbacks and their central defenders would keep tabs on the forwards with the help of the midfielders when not occupied by their man.

Shutting off so many outlets for Madrid and condensing the pitch, the below graphic demonstrates the locations where Roma forced their adversaries into going long to clear, with many being courtesy of Madrid being placed under heavy pressure.

All things considered, there were many encouraging signs that Fonseca's defensive ideas are bedding in and the team's beginning to take shape ahead of the new season.

The side's coordinated pressing framework was certainly a real highlight.