Opinion: 3 notable performances from the draw at Hellas Verona

We’ve picked out three of those individual Roma performances that stood out from the Serie A opener against Verona, that saw Roma extend their unbeaten league run to nine matches...

ANTONIO MIRANTE

The 37-year-old keeper was preferred to Pau Lopez by Paulo Fonseca ahead of kick-off and he rewarded his coach with an assured performance that ended the side’s six-game run without a Serie A clean sheet.

It took Mirante’s shutouts to nine in 17 league outings for Roma, continuing his record of delivering a reliable performance whenever called upon.

Mirante made six saves in total across the 90 minutes - with his parry onto the bar to deny Adrien Tameze in the dying embers of the first-half proving particularly important.

LEONARDO SPINAZZOLA

Spinazzola was at his lively best on Saturday night, with his pace and dribbling causing particular havoc in the first-half as he tormented Davide Faraoni.

His direct approach would have resulted in assists for both Henrikh Mkhitaryan and new boy Pedro on another day and, should Spinazzola carry on in the same vein over the course of the remaining 37 matchdays, he will undoubtedly have a fine season.

He may have understandably tired in the second period but Spinazzola did come closest to clinching a late winner when his spectacular set and volley rattled the Verona bar from range in the 86th minute.

PEDRO

Roma fans would have hoped that the Spaniard would have carried on his record of being involved in eight goals in his last eight opening games of the season, but despite not getting on the scoresheet or laying on an assist, there was real encouragement from his first outing.

After all, this was Pedro’s first game - including pre-season friendlies too - since injuring his shoulder so much in the English FA Cup final on 1 August that he required surgery in the off-season prior to his move to the Italian capital.

His link-up play with Mkhitaryan in the absence of an out-and-out striker suggests the pair have already struck up an understanding and relationship that will have served as a warning sign for the rest of Serie A.