Rome takes back the top. The victory over Udinese is worth the lead in the standings at the expense of Inter, not even on purpose, next opponent in next Saturday's big match. Nothing definitive will be decided at San Siro but the Giallorossi could certainly give a strong signal to the whole championship. Clear victory for the Olimpico, much more than the 3-1 final says.
It is known that Roma love to mirror themselves but in evenings like this, net of the show offered despite the calendar and absences, it is not really the case to analyze the "hair". “I'm happy because I saw the right approach – explained Garcia. – We immediately raised the pace and played in a simple way, I really like the attitude of the team.”
The French coach is very satisfied, on the other hand it is to be understood. With the very delicate (and expensive) away games in Leverkusen and Florence behind him and the imminent one in Milan, the coach had to manage absences (De Rossi and Salah) and energies without however giving up on the result. He succeeded perfectly thanks to the so-called "second lines", above all Maicon. The Brazilian, who has never been a protagonist in the season so far, gave an old-fashioned performance: an assist for Pjanic's 1-0 (4') and a goal after a splendid personal action (9').
And so, with such a start, the match immediately went downhill enough to allow himself the luxury of postponing the third goal several times, the one that would have closed every speech. It can't be a coincidence that Gervinho (63') found it himself: the Ivorian, highly contested at the start of the season and yesterday submerged by the applause of the Giallorossi crowd, photographs Roma's metamorphosis perfectly.
Udinese's goal (Thereau in the 77th minute) was only useful for the scoresheet, as well as to reiterate how the Giallorossi, even at the end of good and convincing performances, always concede something too much. Problems like this, in any case, many would like to have.
Lazio for example, forced, once again, to deal with the now famous travel sickness. Even in Bergamo, as in Verona, Naples and Reggio Emilia, the biancocelesti showed their worst face. The 2-1 final leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for two reasons: the comeback suffered and the step back in the standings. The points remain 18, 2 more than that Milan who, on Sunday evening, will come to the Olimpico to try the sensational overtaking.
“It's a missed opportunity – Pioli's bitter comment. – We could have won but we didn't because we made too many mistakes”. The away curse seemed to be able to be overcome after Biglia had outwitted Sportiello with a splendid free-kick in the 16th minute. But then Atalanta grew and first found an equalizer with Basta's own goal (69', propitiated by an action on the left by Gomez) and then the sensational 2-1 with a great right foot from the Argentine himself.
In short, a two-faced capital and in less than two weeks it will be a derby; first, however, there will be the cross-challenge with Milan, which could give important answers on the real ambitions of the two teams.
