Sinisa Mihajlovic continued with the 4-3-1-2/4-3-2-1 system that has served him well in recent weeks. Juan Manuel Vargas and Valon Behrami played beside Riccardo Montolivo deep in midfield. Mario Santana played a roving role behind the attacking pair of Alberto Gilardino (central striker/prima punta) and Adrian Mutu.
Vincenzo Montella also kept with the 4-2-3-1 “strikerless” formation Luciano Spalletti utilized which produced the best in Francesco Totti’s abilities. Simone Perrotta whose timed runs and movement is still superb played in behind Totti. For most of the game Daniele De Rossi and David Pizarro held their positions deep in midfield. Jérémy Ménez tended to drift in-field and John Arne Riise moved high up the pitch to occupy this space from time to time.
SYSTEM STRENGTHS
Behrami and Vargas, Santana and Mutu
Fiorentina play with two players in Vargas and Behrami who have spent a considerable amount of their time operating wide whether in defence or in midfield. When Mihajlovic plays this duo deep in midfield, they utilize their energy very effectively, putting in tackles, driving down the flanks and making inside runs. It was the presence of Santana, Mutu, Vargas and Behrami moving around in the first half that made La Viola appear so dangerous at times. Their movement, energy and skill in attack meant Fiorentina could build attacks, have options and apply pressure on the opposition. The threat of Montolivo was countered by the presence of Perrotta though he wasn’t entirely nullified in proceedings.
Behrami’s wide movement was particularly impressive combining with Comotto and Santana in the right channel to produce some crossing chances. Vargas also combined with Pasquale on the left to produce crossing chances. Whenever play was built on the right, Vargas got in the box as an option for the resulting cross and vice versa.
Two Registi, One Trequartista
The AS Roma system was created by Spalletti at a time when Totti was the only available option as striker and was designed to utilize his abilities as a false 9 leading to the formation being termed strikerless. He was so good at it that when other strikers returned, the 4-2-3-1-strikerless system was there to stay.
Pizarro acts as the regista for the side. Early on, it was clear Fiorentina attempted to utilize Mutu or Santana if necessary to mark Pizarro, this meant De Rossi stayed relatively deep throughout to allow Roma the chance to build attacks from deep in midfield. Effectively, Roma played with two registi (deep-lying playmakers) for most of the game.
Totti and Perrotta, a combination from Spalletti’s days was also on display. Totti was superb at dropping deep to link up with either regista and making timed runs or releasing passes to team-mates in advanced positions.
THE GOALS – PRODUCT OF TEAM STRENGTHS
The game played out with either side utilizing their strengths while they could. For much of the first half, La Viola quartet of Behrami, Vargas, Santana and Mutu ran at the Roma defence and in the 21st minute, Mutu’s skill took him past both Mexès and Juan to finish past Doni. Fiorentina went one up
De Rossi’s decision to play deeper paid off and when unmarked, he released Riise in the box with a long crossfield pass. Riise was fouled by Comotto and Totti converted the resulting penalty-kick in the 27th minute.
A counter-attack for La Viola ended with Santana winning a corner after running at the Roma backline. Fiorentina went 2-1 up in the 34th minute as they converted the chance they got from the corner kick.
The final Roma goal was as a result of the combination of the regista, Riise who had a superb game and the trequartista, Totti. De Rossi hit another crossfield ball to Riise whose cross was only met by the Totti who had arrived late in the box unmarked.
The defenders had been occupied in an aerial battle with Perrotta.
VIOLA SETTLE FOR DRAW
After Totti’s 2nd goal in the 52nd minute, Fiorentina stopped attacking. The terrorizing runs of Vargas and Behrami were no longer visible. The game turned into domination for Roma.
David Pizarro made efforts to get forward and link-up with Totti but these generally failed. Allowing De Rossi to make forward runs alongside Perrotta might have been a better option. Fiorentina defended better and Roma failed to find spaces to exploit.
Both managers made their changes and the only change that looked like threatening the course of the game was Leandro Greco whose forward runs seemed to threaten the opposition. De Rossi got injured in a clash with Babacar and Greco took the chance to show what De Rossi could have achieved with more forward runs after Fiorentina shut shop
OVERVIEW
The energy Fiorentina applied to attack was lost immediatedly after Totti’s second goal as Fiorentina had just lost the chance to double their lead at the other end. Fiorentina’s style of attack requires lots of energy and commitment from the midfielders operating in Vargas and Behrami’s positions and this energy was lost. After this point, they applied themselves to defensive responsibilities.
Montella has successfully re-implemented Spalletti’s system with Totti putting and removing himself from the reach of the centre backs, Perrotta occupying them with runs from deep and the intelligent use of regista. With performances like this, Marco Borriello may find himself without any hope of playing time soon as he has no place in this system.
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