The Talking Point: Mayoral shows his sharpness

Roma dispatched hosts Crotone thanks to a dominant first half display at the Ezio Scida on Wednesday, during which Borja Mayoral outlined his credentials as a potent alternative to captain Edin Dzeko.

Alongside Carles Perez and Bryan Cristante, Spanish striker Mayoral was handed a first start of 2021 and the 23-year-old took his opportunity with both hands as he bagged a second brace in yellow and red.

It’s certainly no easy task filling in for Dzeko; the club’s record non-Italian goalscorer and the man who sits third on Roma’s list of all-time top goalscorers.

Indeed, the Giallorossi have rarely had one that could be truly depended upon during the five years the Bosnian has been racking up those records.

But Mayoral is increasingly growing in his role as understudy to his 34-year-old Bosnian teammate, the on-loan Real Madrid man now flourishing in the capital and looking immensely confident in Giallorossi colours.

Mayoral’s thumping second from 25 yards was hard evidence of this in what - on the face of it - could well be remembered as his breakout performance as a Roma player.

Paulo Fonseca has eased Mayoral into the first-team fold since joining in the summer - this was just his third league start, compared to six in the Europa League - and it appears the Portuguese tactician’s patience is now paying off, with Mayoral settled, Roma third in Serie A and through to the UEL knockout stages.

Mayoral played a role in all three of Roma’s goals inside 35 minutes of football at Crotone, with each one exhibiting a different aspect of his game.

The poacher’s finish that saw him tap home Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s sublime cross to hand Roma an eighth minute lead was the kind of off the ball movement that Dzeko would have been proud of, while his long-range beauty 20 minutes later combined technique and power to brutal effect.

Mayoral’s movement again caused havoc in the Crotone defence as he reached the ball before Vladimir Golemic to draw the foul and penalty that Mkhitaryan would convert for Roma’s third, all-but wrapping up a Roma victory with a little under an hour to play thanks to the influence exerted by their Spanish striker.

At times Mayoral appeared to be rolling out a highly convincing Dzeko tribute act - not only with his first half flourish, but in his link-up play that brought others into the game around him.

For reference, see Mayoral’s 65th minute lay-off to Bryan Cristante - another player that seized his opportunity to play a starring role in midfield rather than defence.

Dropping deep, just inside Crotone’s half, Mayoral drew out the home side’s defence, providing the space for Lorenzo Pellegrini to run in behind and draw an excellent save from Alex Cordaz that prevented a Roma fourth.

It is exactly the sleight of hand trick Dzeko has made a career out of and proves Mayoral is gaining an increasing understanding of Fonseca’s tactical demands of his sole front-man when deployed at the tip of Roma’s 3-4-2-1 formation.

“I keep working hard, in every game and every training session, to the best of my abilities,” said Mayoral after the win. “I’m always ready to play and to help the team.”

On this evidence, Mayoral is becoming increasingly capable of doing just that on a regular basis, which will delight Fonseca as Roma continue to compete across three fronts.