In their latest friendly, AS Roma faced Olympiacos at the Scopigno Stadium in Rieti, resulting in a 1-1 draw, with both goals coming from penalties. This match marked Roma’s first encounter with fans ahead of their departure to England for the next phase of their summer training camp. The game showcased a promising new attacking trio: Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, and Matias Soulé, who, despite only coming together in the second half, displayed early signs of chemistry.
The atmosphere was more intense than in previous matches, with faster rhythms and tougher tackles, particularly from the Greek side. Coach Daniele De Rossi opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, deploying Pellegrini as a link between the defense and midfield, while also fielding Mancini, Celik, and Cristante—although the latter two seemed off their best form. Tammy Abraham, who remains a target for AC Milan, started as the central forward.
Roma created a notable chance after 15 minutes when Angelino dribbled past three players and set up Abraham, who was fouled in the box for a penalty. Captain Pellegrini converted the spot-kick, sending Tzolakis the wrong way. However, Olympiacos responded quickly, with a penalty of their own after Celik fouled Velde, allowing Rodinei to equalize, despite Svilar’s initial save.
The first half ended with Roma’s Soulé making an impressive backheel pass to Pellegrini, whose cross could not find a teammate. As the game progressed, the team aimed to establish better gameplay through short passes and quick attacks, but they struggled against the aggressive Greek defense.
In the second half, De Rossi made ten substitutions, introducing Dybala and Dovbyk along with El Shaarawy, making the Roma side more offensive. An early scare came as Velde collided with SVilar, but both players were fine. Dybala had an opportunity as his shot deflected off Dovbyk and narrowly missed the goal, while Le Fée’s shot was saved.
The final moments of the match were tense, with El Shaarawy hitting a curling shot just over the crossbar, followed by Velde striking the crossbar for Olympiacos. As the game drew to a close, the rough play from the Greek side continued to be a talking point.
With the match wrapped up, Roma is set to travel to Birmingham for their training camp at St George’s Park, where De Rossi will benefit from excellent facilities and milder weather compared to Rome’s heat. While in England, they are scheduled to play Coventry City and Everton before returning home. Dovbyk and Shomurodov face delays until their visa issues are resolved, but Leandro Paredes will be present, having forfeited two vacation days, and the club may still add more signings as they pursue players like Theate and Pubill.