The halftime score, AS Roma 1-0 Juventus, must come as a pleasant surprise to the Romanistas out there. Roma, beset by injuries and missing three key players due to suspensions, were expected to do very little against the visitors on Monday night. After all, Juventus remain unbeaten, and are coming off a league win over Cesena and a Coppa victory over Bologna.
Roma Vs. Juventus, 2011 Serie A: Halftime, Roma Lead 1-0
Daniele De Rossi is starting at center back. Federico Viviani has been handed his first Serie A start in midfield. And yet, Roma lead -- and Arturo Vidal is sitting in the changing room, already having post-traumatic flashbacks. The Juve man spectacularly failed to clear the ball, allowing De Rossi's shot to settle in the back of the net.
The visitors are on the attack, but simply haven't put on enough pressure. Simone Pepe might come up with a decent goal every once in awhile, but his passing has been atrocious, and he scuffed an easy attempt on goal, allowing the ball to just dribble toward Maarten Stekelenburg. Alessandro Matri has looked great at times, but when he gets close, simply stabs at the ball -- or ends up offside.
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