Keys To Victory: Andressa rises to challenge in league and cup

In the league encounter up north it proved to be an entertaining first-ever meeting between the two sides, with a second half flourish seeing Roma come out on top.

Andressa Alves scored a brace either side of half-time, with strikers Lindsey Thomas and Amalie Thestrup also getting on the scoresheet with well-taken goals.

Andressa was at it again for the midweek cup match - a game that Roma found frustrating at times, needing extra time to see off Bari. However, the Brazilian got her fourth goal for the club, before Andrine Hegerberg’s clever finish ensured Roma progressed to the next round.

Key Moments

The opening 20 minutes of the game against Inter were fairly even, with Roma enjoying some strong spells of possession. However, the first big chance of the game fell to the opponents – but Camelia Ceasar produced a big save to stop it.

After Gloria Marinelli had been put in with a through ball, Ceasar stayed strong at the near post to prevent her shot going in.

The intervention was crucial, as Roma have performed much better when they have scored first this season than when falling behind. Ceasar’s stop ensured that they didn’t concede the first goal - and a few minutes later, Roma took the lead themselves.

Some positive dribbling from former Inter forward Agnese Bonfantini earned the Giallorosse a penalty, with Andressa stepping up to take it – having scored her first ever Roma goal from the spot against Tavagnacco in the game before.

Once again, there was no doubting the end result of her effort, as her powerful shot flew past the keeper to put Roma in the driving seat.

Her goal against Bari also eased the nerves in a delicately balanced game. Skipping past two opponents, Andressa took the ball to a wide angle before arrowing it across the keeper into the far corner.

It showed another aspect of her skillset, which the Roma faithful are starting to see in more detail.

Key Decision

Coach Betty Bavagnoli took the decision to place both Andressa and Bonfantini in the same lineup for both games – and it worked out well for all concerned.

Andressa was able to thrive in a central position, scoring her first goal from open play this season with a curled effort from outside the box against Inter.

Ahead of her, in another position Andressa could also play, Bavagnoli opted to deploy Bonfantini against her old club. The winger showed no signs of being affected by the emotion of the occasion, impressing with her skills and pace.

She was a constant threat to the opponents, drawing several fouls and giving Roma the momentum.

Perhaps playing two similar players in Andressa and Bonfantini could have been seen as a risk, but the left-footed duo both impressed, fully justifying Bavagnoli’s selection – and making it easy to continue like so against Bari.

Once again, the pair worked well in tandem, with right-back Kaja Erzen also adding to the threat with her contributions going forward. Bonfantini’s dribbling was Roma’s biggest outlet in a tight game, while Andressa showed her maturity to keep things calm in the middle.

It appears Bavagnoli has found the right balance to accommodate two of her best players.

Key Players

It can sometimes be a challenge for a player to adapt to a new environment, but Allyson Swaby has slowly been growing into Italian football. Against Inter, she turned in one of her best displays for Roma.

With Federica Di Criscio being forced off with a serious injury in the first half, 23-year-old Swaby had to be the glue that held Roma’s defence together. Particularly towards the end of the game, she achieved that.

Swaby seemed to be in the right place at the right time whenever danger presented itself. It was a big team effort, but the Jamaican international was pivotal in stopping Inter’s intricate attacks.

In the cup, it was in attack where Roma needed their biggest contributions, to break down a resolute defence and a strong performance from Bari keeper Maria Balbi. Winger Bonfantini carried on from where she left off against Inter, causing problems for the opposition with her dribbling.

Confident enough to attack either inside on her stronger left foot, or down the channel on her right side, Bari could not cope with Bonfantini’s pace. Once again, she won foul after foul for her side, always attacking with an intent that could not be matched by those she was facing.

Key Fact

The injury to Elisa Bartoli in the warmup at Inter allowed Claudia Ciccotti to captain her hometown club for the first time – on what was actually her first start of the season.

Following the signings of Andrine Hegerberg and Manuela Giugliano in the summer, Ciccotti has had to bide her time for opportunities this season. However, she looked like she had been a regular all year with her energetic performance.

Sitting in Giugliano’s usual position in front of the back four, Ciccotti broke up play and converted defence into attack with her range of passing. She showed her experience and maturity, helping Roma manage the game by holding the ball up in the corner late on.

On Wednesday, captaincy duties fell to Giada Greggi, another midfielder who had also not started for quite some time. She worked hard on her return and sent a reminder of what she can bring to the team.

Both players wore the armband with pride, honouring it in Bartoli’s absence. It hasn’t been the easiest start to the campaign for either of them, but now they could be back in full flow.