Roma are creeping up on Serie A leaders Juventus after their Sunday night cuffing of a dreadful Palermo at the Stadio Olimpico. The Giallorossi took advantage of AC Milan's win on Saturday to cut the gap between themselves and league leaders Juventus to just two points.
Roma's attacking trident was irrepressible, with Edin Dzeko in particular standing out with an assist on Mohamed Salah's opener and a slickly taken eighth of the season, taking him two clear at the top of the Serie A goalscorers chart.
Sunday's win was their third on the bounce and Palermo's first loss on the road, and it looks as though Roma's season has finally got going after a sloppy start. Slowly but surely an identity is forming around the team, and while the paucity of the opposition certainly helped this time around, there's no denying that Roma now look like a cohesive unit, rather than a collection of talented individuals.
Positives
Whatever Roma have done to Dzeko's diet, they should make sure he sticks to it. The Bosnian looks like a completely new player in the last month or so, playing with a confidence never before seen in the Italian capital. As well as the goals, his link up play with Salah and Stephan El Shaarawy -- who bagged his third goal in a week with eight minutes left -- was a joy.
Negatives
Not three days ago Roma chucked away a two-goal lead to Austria Vienna, so it's incredibly that when 2-0 up thy had to call on Wojciech Szczesny to pull off to super saves while the rest of the team briefly rested on their laurels. Thankfully they quickly shook themselves out of their stupor. Meanwhile Radja Nainggolan's ropey form remains a worry.
Manager rating out of 10
8--Opting to leave Alessandro Florenzi on the bench and pick left-footed Emerson Palmieri at right-back was a curious move, but one that didn't harm the team any. Luciano Spalletti has got his team pressing and attacking as a unit, and as well as getting Dzeko firing, the Tuscan has also coaxed Daniele De Rossi out of his comfort zone and into some of his best form in years.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):
GK Wojciech Szczesny, 7 -- Had very little to do all night, but was on point when needed, first pushing away Alessandro Diamante's fine strike and then getting down quickly to Siniša Anđelković's point blank range header
DF Juan Jesus, 4 -- The Brazilian was all over the place from the start, nervous on the ball and always looked like a rick was lurking around the corner.
DF Kostas Manolas, 7 -- Should probably have been sent off in the first half for a chest high tackle on Haitam Aleesami after playing a terribly sloppy pass to Emerson, but apart from that was his usual solid self.
DF Federico Fazio, 7 -- Slotted in very nicely alongside Manolas. No fuss made of a pretty decent centre-forward in Ilija Nestoroski. DF Emerson Palmieri, 7 - Solid both on the right flank and on the left, once Florenzi replaced the edgy Juan Jesus at half time. Provided plenty of attacking threat as well as dealing with what little threat Palermo posed.
MF Leandro Paredes, 7 -- Really growing into his role in front of the back four after a shaky start to the season. Smooth as silk on the ball.
MF Radja Nainggolan, 5 -- The one real bum note of the night. The Belgian is playing like a pitbull chained to a post, desperately in search of a passerby to bite.
MF Daniele De Rossi, 7 -- The local boy has knuckled down since his meltdown against Porto in August, and he was impressive again on Sunday, full of vim in his pressing and cool with the ball at his feet.
FW Stephan El Shaarawy, 7 -- With Diego Perotti out injured, the Pharoah is staking a claim for the Argentine's spot on the left side of Roma's front three. Rounded off the win with a lovely poked finish.
FW Edin Dzeko, 8 -- Simply excellent. Took his goal beautifully, calmly finishing a wonderful passing move, and is brimming with confidence at the moment.
FW Mohamed Salah, 7 -- The Egyptian has found Dzeko's wavelength, and both are benefitting. A goal and an assist are just reward for a strong night's work.
Substitutes
MF Alessandro Florenzi, 7 --Had an absolute field day down the right as a half-time substitute for Jesus. Led the move and played the pass that led to Dzeko's goal.
MF Kevin Strootman, 7 -- Shook off the recent controversy about his physical condition post-international break with a powerful 24 minutes in place of Nainggolan.
FW Francesco Totti, N/R -- It's testament to Totti's incredible form at 40 that you're almost disappointed that he hasn't scored or pulled off another outrageous assist in a 13-minute cameo.