Former Red Devil saves Roma from defeat

AS Roma are currently team interested only in European competition. Jose Mourinho's team has managed to reach the Europa League final and will battle with Seville on May 31st for the second trophy in as many seasons, but in Serie A, they are all but finished as far as the Champions League is concerned. Giallorossi were five games without a win in Serie A prior to this match, and this terrible form continued today, when they allowed a weak Salernitana team to take them a valuable point. A Senegal striker Boulaye Dia was about to score a winner after the visitors took a 2-1, lead, but former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matić was the one who scored a late equalizer and prevented an ugly defeat. Still, a final 2-2 draw left Roma out of the Champions League, at least through the Italian league. Mourinho could still take this team to the UEFA's strongest competition with a win in Europa League. Otherwise, Roma will play in the Conference League (or Europa League) next season, depending on the results of the last round results next week. However, during the match, a news came that the court took 10 points from Juventus, which still gives Roma some chance, but they must win the remaining two games (Fiorentina, Spezia) and hope for some other favorable results.

It was not a pretty game at Stadio Olimpico, but for the last few weeks, none of Roma's games were enetertaining. Mourinho usually plays defensively, and uses the individual qualities and free kicks/corners to score a goal or two, and Roma doesn't have so many quality players in its team. Carefully deciding to rest his main players ahead of Sevilla game, Mourinho changed eight players in this game, but they were not good enough to defeat Salernitana. In fact, the guests took the lead after a stunner from former rivals Lazio player, a 36-year old Antonio Candreva. It took Roma half an hour to equalize, and it was El Shaarawy who used the defection to put the ball in the net.

Roma took the initiative and looked likely to score than Salernitana, but the guests annoyed the home fans again with a quick score in the 54th minute. Mourinho introduced first team regulars and the pressure grew before former Manchester United and Chelsea player Nemanja Matić scored (again) from a deflection for the final 2-2.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 36

Friday

Sassuolo - Monza 1-2 (1-0)

/Berardi 45+6 pen - Ciurria 60, Pessina 90+3/

Saturday

Cremonese - Bologna 1-5 (0-3)

/Ciofani 90+1 - Arnautovic 14, Ferguson 27, Posch 45+1, Orsolini 62, Sansone 80/

Atalanta - Verona 3-1 (1-1)

/Zappacosta 22, Pasalic 53, Hojlund 62 - Lazovic 11/

Milan - Sampdoria 5-1 (3-1)

/Leao 9, Giroud 23, 29 pen, 68, Diaz 63 - Quagliarella 29/

Sunday

Lecce - Spezia 0-0

Torino - Fiorentina 1-1 (0-0)

/Sanabria 66 - Jovic 48/

Napoli - Inter 3-1 (0-0)

/Zambo-Anguissa 67, Di Lorenzo 85, Gaetano 90+4 - Lukaku 82/

Udinese - Lazio 0-1 (0-0)

/Immobile 61 pen/

Monday

Roma - Salernitana 2-2 (0-1)

/El Sharaaway 57, Matic 83 - Candreva 12, Dia 54/

21:45: (5.30) Empoli (3.60) Juventus (1.75)

***odds are subject to change***