Pau Lopez (5 points): the Spaniard did not have a particularly busy performance in the Lecce game, but he was the only goalie to keep a clean sheet over the week and therefore the lone point-getter at his position. Roma had not blanked an opponent since the beginning of December.
Aleksandar Kolarov (9 points): the Serbian fullback, who is usually a fantasy stud, had gone through a sticky patch where he even lost the starting job for a minute, but he roared back versus the Salentini with a strong display and a pretty strike to round up the score. He still has not patched things up with the fan base though.
Chris Smalling (5 points): La Lupa’s centre-backs had just one striker to hold in check against a depleted opponent, but Gianluca Lapadula can be a nuisance. He was rendered ineffective partly thanks to another dominant performance by the English defender, who can outduel the best of ‘em with his physicality.
Adam Marusic (3 points): it took him just a couple of minutes to burst between two defenders with extreme vigour and punch it under the crossbar on a very deep cut, cracking the Genoa tilt wide open. The Serbian international has resurfaced in pretty surprising fashion, since Manuel Lazzari had been very solid on the right flank.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (8 points): he put together his best performance of the season as he knocked one through the goalie’s legs and perfectly set up a teammate with a though ball against Lecce. He has been a difference-maker when available, unfortunately he has been hurt a lot.
Cengiz Under (6 points): the Turk speedster picked the most opportune time to return to the stat-sheet, as Carles Perez is beginning to breath down his neck and might snatch the starting job away from him. He will never be the most consistent player, but his left foot is often money.
Fabian Ruiz (4 points): after doing damage in Coppa Italia, he replicated his success in Serie A play with a dazzling lefty curled shot right in the top corner. He has been underwhelming for months, but it looks he is finally back.
Aaron Ramsey (4 points): he voiced his desire to play right box-to-box recently, the coach complied in the last two games and he fared well versus SPAL, bagging his second goal in the Peninsula with a lovely chip over the goalie that was coming out. He too has been hampered by injuries and lack of conditioning, but he might be a valuable asset down the stretch.
Edin Dzeko (6 points): he is the unquestioned hub of Roma’s offense as most plays run through him when they reach the final third. He fed Mkhitaryan with a splendid ball and, after looking for it, he hit the net with an easy finish, extending his scorching stretch.
Ciro Immobile (4 points): Lazio had to dig deep to get the better of Genoa and their leader answered the bell once again with a quality finish in the second half to double the lead. He has already notched 27 goals: only Antonio Angelillo in the late 50’s had produced at such rate in the history of the Italian league.
Rodrigo Palacio (4 points): despite a make-shift XI due to several absences, Bologna kept going in the Udinese game with impressive resilience and were rewarded with a late equalizer by the sempiternal Argentinian, who has squandered some opportunities in the recent matches, but delivered when they needed the most, pouncing on a lose ball in the box on a pretty little feed over the top by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
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