Rome derby, Eldor's influence and Ranieri's "problematic" choices

The Rome derby, part of the 32nd round of Serie A, took place at the "Olimpico" stadium with "Lazio" as the host. Both teams are competing for a spot in the UEFA Champions League for the next season.

In the 47th minute, Romanoli opened the scoring. In the 59th minute, Eldor Shomurodov was substituted onto the field. In the 69th minute, Matias Sule equalized the score.

In the remaining minutes, the teams could not find a way to each other's goal. The match ended in a 1:1 draw. "Roma" extended their unbeaten streak to 16 games. However, the lost 2 points reduced Ranieri's team's chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

After the match, head coach Claudio Ranieri commented on why he does not always start Shomurodov and Dovbik at the same time:

- "This question was asked after the game against 'Juventus' as well. Yes, I know well – if Eldor and Artyom play together, we become a dangerous team for the opponent. They complement each other.

But I take one thing into account: if I need to make a tactical change during the game, there will be no other striker left on the bench. That is the biggest problem.

Every week after training, I tell myself: this time I will start Eldor in the main lineup. But then my mind changes. Because if something happens in the game, I won’t have the option.

However, when Eldor comes onto the field, the team gains strength. He plays with enthusiasm. Dovbik also starts to move more freely up front. This pair is effective, but I have to choose the most optimal solution.”

Shomurodov was close to leaving "Roma" twice this season. However, in crucial moments, he became an important player for Ranieri's team. The club offered him a new contract. Now he will stay with the Rome club until 2027.