Roma has a future star: Pisilli scores a brace against the Germans

It is clear that Roma‘s main goal this season under Gian Piero Gasperini is to secure Champions League football next season, and if possible, be in the mix for the Serie A title. But, since they are already competing in Europa League, which their coach won two seasons ago with Atalanta, Giallorossi are pushing in Europa too. At home, they faced their equals in Germany – Stuttgart and secured a much needed 2-0 win ahead of the crucial last round. The Bundesliga team is also fourth in the league, just like Roma and recorded three straight wins in Europe, just like Gasperini‘s men but in this match, they missed no less than three excellent chances. Against a strong team like Roma you cannot do that if you want all three points.

Former Brighton striker Deniz Undav missed two and Demirović one chance to give the Germans at least one point, while Pisilli on the other side scored in the 40th minute and then again in injury time. Gasperini mixed the first 11 with a derby match with Milan over the weekend in mind. He has five players who used to play in Germany in his team (Ndicka, Angelino, Hermoso, Mallen and Kone) but only the Frenchman started the game. When Pisilli scored his first goal, experienced Gasperini ‘closed the game‘ with first-team players he introduced. Not only did they prevented a surprise equalizer, but Roma even confirmed the victory in the end. The young midfielder got a chance and used it perfectly.

Both clubs had their intervals dominance in the first half an hour but chances were few and they were product of either individual effort of defensive mistakes. The first real opportunity happened in the 33rd minute when Leweling found some space in the Roma box to get a shot off, but keeper Svilar was well aware and saved it. After a couple more minutes of individual misses (Celik, Undav), Roma used their initiative and took the lead. It was a fantastic pass from Soule into space between two Stuttgart defenders and youngster Pisilli came in and finished it calmly. Captain Pellegini nearly doubled the lead just two minutes later, but his well placed shot in the penalty area was saved well by Nubel.

The first 15 minutes of the second half belonged to Stuttgart‘s Deniz Undav and his two stunning misses. The strong German striker just shrugged of young Ziolkowski in the 47th minute, but Svilar replicated his colleague Nubel with an excellent save. However, in the 58th minute even the Roma keeper was helpless when the ball came to Undav accidentally and he was all alone. Instead of finally putting the ball into the net, the German striker somehow managed to fire it over the bar. Assignon came from the right in the 67th minute but his volley was too easy for Svilar. Stuttgart coach introduced Ermedin Demirovic in the 70th minute and the former Augsburg striker missed a sitter just eight minutes later. Demirović was in front of Svilar but shot directly at him from five meters before Ndicka prevented an equalizer from a rebound. All those misses were punished by the young Pisilli who confirmed the victory in injury time.