Clear Roma improvements but Di Canio warns about ‘real test’

Roma are the new Serie A leaders and will host Napoli in the next Serie A match on Sunday: ‘A real test,’ warns ex-Lazio striker Paolo Di Canio.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma secured a comfortable 3-1 win over Cremonese on Sunday, jumping to the top of the Serie A table.

Former Serie A stars Paolo Di Canio, Alessandro Costacurta and Luca Marchegiani examined the Giallorossi’s recent results during Sky Sport Italia‘s Sunday night show.

Costacurta: ‘Real Roma test’ against Napoli

“They run quickly. It seems to me that they’ve really improved; now they have a real test against Napoli,” Costacurta said.

“Dybala seems less important, but the others work hard. I like this, Roma.”

Gasperini’s men won the opening four Serie A games of the season, including a derby against Lazio, by 1-0, but their last two victories against Udinese and Cremonese came with a two-goal margin.

Di Canio: ‘Roma improved against smaller teams’

Former Lazio, Milan and Juventus striker Di Canio urged the Giallorossi to make a further step forward, especially because on Sunday they’ll host defending champions Napoli at the Olimpico.

“He [Costacurta] is right, now there’s a real test now,” said Di Canio.

“Because they’ve improved with the smaller teams. They used to suffer with Verona, even Lazio, who were a small team back then. Now they are winning easily. They have won all the games where they took the lead. When they went down, they always lost, except against Fiorentina, who were the most disastrous team at that time, and even missed big chances. Roma lost five games by one goal.

“They didn’t react, including in three games at home. They lost against direct rivals, Inter and Milan.”

Ex-Lazio goalkeeper Marchegiani concluded: “They attack in a better way, in terms of courage and ability; they’ve entered Gasperini’s mentality. Take the ball, look at the opponent and go for the one-on-one.”