Roma concluded their English training camp with a 1-1 draw against Everton, following a strong 4-0 victory over Barnsley. While the display against Barnsley showcased the team’s brilliance, they faced significant challenges in this match, particularly during the first half. New signing Dovbyk, who was highly anticipated, struggled to adapt to the team’s play style and connect with his teammates. On the brighter side, Pellegrini and Le Fée performed well. The focus now shifts to their upcoming match against Cagliari.
Coach De Rossi opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with Le Fée and Pellegrini pushing high up the pitch, while wingers Soulé and Zalewski alternated between staying wide and drifting inside to create space for overlapping full-backs. The game initially took time to get going, partly because Everton’s technical limitations were noticeable early on. The pace was slow, resembling a training session rather than a competitive match.
Dovbyk, possibly the player with the most expectations, had a missed opportunity just five minutes in, failing to score in a one-on-one situation against Pickford after receiving a good pass from Cristante. Despite another chance later in the half, he could not convert. Everton’s performance was also lackluster, as they failed to capitalize on a few defensive errors from Roma when building from the back.
The breakthrough came from Soulé, who played a clever ball to Pellegrini. The captain took advantage, curling a shot past Pickford into the far corner.
The second half, however, saw a different Everton as they increased their intensity while Roma struggled to regain control. McNeil set up Calvert-Lewin for the equalizer, and the introduction of Ndiaye brought creativity and energy to the home side. Roma’s goalkeeper Svilar was called into action, making critical saves against Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin, and Harrison as Everton ramped up their attacking efforts.
Roma, on the other hand, lost their balance and shape. Ndicka made a couple of crucial errors at the back, and Baldanzi’s introduction as a midfielder was another experiment for De Rossi. The substitutions, which included bringing on Dybala and Abraham for the lackluster Dovbyk, failed to impact the match significantly.
In the end, the match finished 1-1. Roma will need to improve their performance for the upcoming match against Cagliari, hoping for better coordination and sharper ideas on the pitch.
