Sampdoria 2-1 Roma: Juan errors cost Roma as Sampdoria alter their shape to beat ten men
The starting line-ups
Sampdoria battled back from 1-0 down to claim the three points.
Domenico di Carlo played a 4-4-2 system, but was forced to leave flu-ridden Giampaolo Pazzini on the bench, with Nicola Pozzi coming in. Daniele Mannini and Fernando Tissone were left out with Vladimir Koman and Andrea Poli starting instead.
Claudio Ranieri chose an XI that looked likely to be 4-3-1-2, but actually formed a 4-3-3 system with Jeremy Menez and Mirko Vucinic switching wings throughout, and also moving into the centre. Ranieri also completely changed his midfield trio from the side which beat Catania 4-2 in midweek.
The game was played at a slow tempo but was relatively open and enjoyable throughout, and produced three goals and three red cards.
Contrast in styles
The two sides had different approaches. Roma had more men in the centre of midfield and were playing a patient passing game, building up play relatively slowly. They sometimes held onto the ball for too long in the centre of the pitch without really drawing Sampdoria out of position, as if they missed having the trequartista they’ve fielded in recent weeks to link midfield and attack.
Still, the use of two wide players was forcing Sampdoria’s full-backs back, and Roma were at their best when the full-backs, winger and outside midfielders formed a triangle on the flank and combined.
Sampdoria poor early on
Sampdoria were playing more direct, looking to hit the ball quickly to their wingers, and switching the play from flank to flank. They lacked good interplay between the wingers and forwards, though, and the striking duo of Pozzi and Guido Marilungo, fielded together for the first time, lacked fluency.
The same could be said of Sampdoria’s pressing – they tried to shut Roma’s midfielders down, but were not set out in a formation that made this easy – Roma simply passed around them in midfield. Roma’s goal came from a rare direct attack, when Vucinic powered down the right and thumped the ball into the far corner, but overall their dominance merited the lead.
The formations from 55-80 mins, after Roma went down to ten men
Second half drama
It was fairly comfortable for Roma for the rest of the half, and indeed until the 55th minute, when one stray pass turned the entire game on its head. Juan, on at half time for Phillipe Mexes, underhit a backpass and Julio Sergio brought down Angelo Palombo. He was sent off, and substitute keeper Doni was unable to save Pozzi’s penalty.
Ranieri had removed Menez in order to bring on Doni, and so Roma moved to a 4-3-2 formation, with both Vucinic and Marco Borriello asked to try and occupy both a centre-back and full-back each, trying to provide a goal threat whilst also keeping the full-backs at bay. For the majority of the second half this worked, as Di Carlo didn’t respond to having a man extra with a change in tactics.
Static contest
The situation was quite strange – Roma were clearly playing for a draw, and the midfield three and full-backs generally remained in position even when the Giallorossi had the ball. This meant that, with Sampdoria playing a back four and two deep midfielders, the home side often had 6 v 2 when Roma hit the ball long to the forwards, and they weren’t forcing the issue with regards to a second goal.
Furthermore, the two Roma forwards played their roles well, with Luciano Zauri rarely influencing the game and Reto Ziegler moving forward tentatively. It looked like we were heading for a stalemate.
Substitution proves vital
Di Carlo made two straight swaps with his strikers, and then finally brought on an extra attacking player on 82 minutes, with Mannini replacing Poli, and Samp doing 4-1-3-2. Sure enough, within 60 seconds of Mannini being on the pitch, Samp went ahead after his cross into the box – Guberti poking the ball home after another dreadful Juan error.
The final moments were strange. Despite needing a goal, Ranieri waited until the 91st minute to introduce Francesco Totti into the game, whilst both Sampdoria’s centre-backs were dismissed for collecting two bookings. Samp’s situation at the end of the game was bizarre – they had to defend for their lives without any centre-backs, and were literally sorting out positions on the pitch themselves. In the end, they weathered the brief storm, and collected a win that seemed impossible at half-time.
Conclusion
The tactical lesson here is that adapting your shape when the opposition get a man sent off is generally wise. The side you set up to beat eleven men might not be the best side to beat ten – you’re presented with a different challenge, a numerical superiority in (at least) one area of the pitch, and the opposition often change their mentality too. Too many managers simply keep their starting XI on the pitch and hope to steamroller their opponents, when a little managerial craft can change things quickly.
That was the situation here – Di Carlo persisted with his 4-4-2 for far too long, allowed his full-backs to be subdued far too easily, and very nearly gave up the opportunity of the three points. The introduction of Mannini was crucial.
Sampdoria 2-1 Roma: Juan errors cost Roma as Sampdoria alter their shape to beat ten men
Koman’s given name is Vladimir, not Robert.
Oops, getting confused with Robert Koren there I think! Ta!
Thanks for summarising that game. I like Samp and had hoped to watch the game but wasn’t able too in the end. A valuable 3 points for Sampdoria.
I think it would be fair to say Fergie made that mistake as well today- failing to adjust his side after the opposition going a man down. It worked because his side were winning the game rather than drawing it, but given Fletcher had a poor game putting Anderson on in an advanced midfield role could have settled the game.
In this game I found it interesting how close together Roma’s midfield three played. Extremely compact.Good defensively but thought they were too static going forward.
Yeah, good call on the midfield being on top of each other.
It’s not very common to substitute a central defender for another, especially that early on. Do you think not having adapted to the match in progress as long as others on the pitch might have had something to do with Juan’s horrible errors? They were literally painful to watch. And why did Ranieri insist on taking Mexes off? (I watched only parts of the first half.)
I assume it was an injury, if not then bizarre…
Indeed. What about the case of Juan the ‘Too Fresh’? I know it’s not about tactics but somewhat interesting anyway… Just as any stats to support or deny it would be.
ZM can you review Milan vs Udinese 4-4? It was quite an epic match.
I’m hoping for the same. Very open game, no red cards, and a typically dreadful Bonera performance. Would love an analysis of this one.
have not seen this game which was decided by errors you say, but I wish you had written something on the stupendous REAL-VILLAREAL game which was decided thru tactical changes , a game of two halves where in the first dominated by beautiful free flowing Villareal team giving Real’s soloists a futbol lesson , and the second a total turn around with a crushing performance of the whites and retreating yellows..,
was this just the change from Diarra (‘Lass’#10) to Khedira or a few more things I would have likes your analysis!
Have some patience, blimey
Please check the ‘upcoming’ page at the top next time
Samp’s situation at the end of the game was bizarre – they had to defend for their lives without any centre-backs, and were literally sorting out positions on the pitch themselves. In the end, they weathered the brief storm, and collected a win that seemed impossible at half-time.