Four Things We Learned: Attacking movement catches the eye

Roma fly high after the international break

Roma returned from the international break in style by overcoming Benevento 5-2 in an entertaining clash at the Stadio Olimpico.

Despite going down early, the Giallorossi recovered to take a 2-1 lead into half time courtesy of goals from Pedro and Edin Dzeko. Their lead didn't last long, however, for Gianluca Lapadula levelled things in the 55th minute.

Roma then showed their character and offensive prowess to go ahead through Jordan Veretout's penalty before Dzeko and Carles Perez capped off the win.

Producing some devastating attacking sequences and looking so dangerous both in organised build up and in transition, Paulo Fonseca was happy with the display.

"We played well today. We have confidence in what we are doing. It’s a new season, but the side has started things well," he said.

"I want an attacking side, one that creates lots of chances on goal.”

Dzeko delights the Olimpico

Dzeko's multifaceted performance was an integral component towards Roma ousting the visitors. Bagging a brilliant brace, which brought his tally to 23 in 28 matches against newly promoted sides, the Bosnian lead the lead with aplomb.

Involved in so much of his team's best offensive moments, his movement, technique, creativity, poaching instincts and relationships with his teammates were vital.

Whether dropping deep to connect midfield and attack, rotating with his fellow attackers, generating space for others or smartly finding space in behind or in the area, Dzeko was a real handful for Benevento.

Never letting his foes settle into a rhythm of how to contain him, opponents were regularly caught in two minds whether to track him or stay put depending on his movement and in what area of the pitch he was occupying.

Putting in a fine shift with the ball at his feet, Roma's technically proficient hitman linked play smartly with some neat lay offs, switched the play with conviction and struck some incisive through balls. Prime examples of his aptitude here arose when he slid a superb through ball into Pedro prior to him winning his second half penalty and when his deft flick set the ball rolling for Roma's opener.

Moreover, his clinical finishing, hold up play and aerial prowess further added to his menace, on a night where he moved clear of Rodolfo Volk into sole possession of fourth on Roma's all-time top goalscorers list.

Roma exploit the channels

Seeing as Roma's fullbacks took every opportunity to maraud forward into advanced areas, this effectively drew out the nearby Benevento fullback to press Leonardo Spinazzola or Davide Santon.

In doing so, this left the channel behind them vacant, which Roma's nominal wingers in Pedro and Henrikh Mkhitaryan duly exploited.

Timing and directing their runs ideally, this forced a Benevento central defender out to track them, thus stretching and unbalancing their backline's central presence. Indeed, by drawing out a central defender, Roma could subsequently fire in crosses and cutbacks into the area with one less number to worry about.

Although this tactic didn't directly lead to a goal, it was nonetheless effective at manipulating Filippo Inzaghi's defensive organisation.

Roma lethal in transition

Once Roma won back possession in their defensive half, the way they launched dangerous counter attacks was a massive highlight.

So quick to transition from defence into attack, their talented attackers broke rapidly and ran excellent routes to provide the ball holder with many options.

How Dzeko often dropped to draw men out as the likes of Mkhitaryan, Pedro and one or Lorenzo Pellegrini or Veretout would motor ahead gave them many outlets across the width of the pitch.

Absolutely devastating in this phase of the game, many glowing examples of their success on the counter could be found, as their second, third and fourth goals all arrived on the break.

Manufacturing advantageous 4v3s, 3v3s, 3v2s and 2v2s, their foes were persistently put on the back foot against the free flowing Roma.

Clean, clinical, strategic and supremely executed, Fonseca would have enjoyed his team shine in this area throughout and importantly capitalise on their chances.