Keys to Victory: Bartoli's brilliance steers side through

Roma Women will go into the forthcoming international break on a high note, after beating Sassuolo 1-0 on Sunday afternoon to make it five games unbeaten in all competitions.

Agnese Bonfantini continued her rich run of form by opening the scoring early on, making it five goals in three games for the Italian winger.

Roma came close to extending that lead on a couple of occasions, but it was a fairly balanced game, meaning there was work to be done to keep hold of the three points.

With strong performances across the entire back four, a second clean sheet in a row was kept, as Roma succeeded in protecting their lead.

Consequently, they moved 11 points clear of their opponents, who had been directly below them in the table before kick-off.

It’s now a clear case of looking up the table rather than at what might be lurking behind.

Key Player

The defenders didn’t just play their part in keeping the ball out of Rosalia Piptone’s goal; much of Roma’s success came from the way both full-backs pushed up the pitch.

Kaja Erzen was very supportive to Agnese Bonfantini down the right-hand side – indeed, it was the Slovenian’s cross that was controlled by Amalie Thestrup before Allyson Swaby played the ball in for Bonfantini’s goal – but it was captain Elisa Bartoli who really stood out.

Bartoli was kept busy on the left-hand side, with Sassuolo also pushing their full-backs high up. With the opponents having the home advantage, they looked to put Roma under pressure, but Bartoli helped Roma’s defence hold firm.

The captain ensured she won her battles with her usual strength and intelligence. Then, she looked to dominate her side of the pitch by getting forward.

She went close with a left-footed volley in the 15th minute, before an inviting curled effort nearly found its way into the bottom corner in the second half.

Key Moment

It was a quick, instinctive idea from Thestrup that helped unlock the game for Roma.

Receiving Erzen’s cross with her back to goal, the thought of trying to get a shot away must have briefly passed Thestrup’s mind. The striker noticed a better opportunity, though.

Thestrup showed awareness and intelligence by laying it off to Swaby on her right, whose cross was helped just over the line by Bonfantini. It was a selfless piece of play from the Danish forward, who throughout the rest of her performance was efficient in how she used the ball.

Swaby also deserves praise for her role in the goal. It is rare for centre-backs to get into positions where they can put crosses in, let alone make them good deliveries, but the Jamaican’s was played in with the perfect shape for her teammate to attack.

Bonfantini then helped the ball over the line by an admittedly narrow margin, but it was enough to give her another goal in a prolific season.

The winger becomes the third player this season to score in three successive games for Roma, after Andressa Alves in December and Lindsey Thomas in a spell that stretched across late December and early January.

Key Decision

With her line-up becoming increasingly settled in recent weeks, all that Betty Bavagnoli changed was who started in goal, with Rosalia Pipitone replacing Camelia Ceaser.

That meant that five players kept up their records of starting every game for Roma in 2020 – and those that did showed the benefits of the regularity they have been able to build up.

Bartoli’s role in the win has already been documented, while her fellow defender Tecla Pettenuzzo also impressed. She may only be 20, but she has been a leader at the back ever since Federica Di Criscio suffered an injury back in December.

Against the club she spent last season with, Pettenuzzo read everything that came at her, thwarting the threats posed by some of her former teammates.

The other players to have started all seven games this calendar year are Andressa Alves, Lindsey Thomas and Bonfantini. All three have developed a finetuned understanding in attack, and although only one goal came against Sassuolo, in general, it has helped Roma become a high-scoring outfit.

The consistency in selections has seen Roma build up a run of four wins and one draw from their last five games – emerging victorious in every game they have played in February. It has been a vital month for a Roma side chasing down their ambitions of a top two finish.

Key Fact

Bartoli led by example on what was a landmark personal occasion. The Rome-born defender was making her 40th start for her childhood club, becoming the first player to pass that milestone for the women’s team.

Bonfantini and Giada Greggi also reached 40 appearances with their contributions, but Bartoli is out in front in terms of starts. Annamaria Serturini is the only player to have played more games than her captain, but again, she is two starts short of Bartoli.

Every single appearance Bartoli has made for the club has come from the first whistle – Manuela Giugliano is the only other outfield player for whom that is the case. It shows how important both are to the team; their quality commands respect.

Ever since the start of this journey, Bartoli has been the clear leader. The team’s first captain, she has carried them forward as they push to break into uncharted territories. How fitting it is, then, that she leads the way when starting games for her team.