AS Rome: Dybala in defeat against Ascoli

Paulo Dybala’s first play with his new teammates, far from the cameras and the eyes of the curious. Roma played a friendly behind closed doors this afternoon in Trigoria against Ascoli and a 1-0 defeat came, with a goal in the 67th minute of Eric Botteghin on the development of a corner kicked by Falasco.

A close-door friendly for Jose Mourinho’s experiment

Dybala’s “real” debut was scheduled for next 30 July, in Israel against Antonio Conte’s Tottenham, but Mourinho turned the tables, sending the former Juve on the pitch in a closed-door test where neither fans nor press were able to attend. 

Some details still leaked out, including the fact that Dybala was in the starting XI of a 3-4-1-2 formation, used as the striker alongside Stephan El Shaarawy, with teenager Cristian Volpatoa the trequartista.

Jose Mourinho continues to test the team’s tactics, using Matias Vina in the three-man defense rather than as a wing-back. Mourinho has decided not to postpone the “debut” of the South American Joya, who today, before playing against Ascoli from the first minute, continued individual athletic training. New signing Zeki Celik was placed on the right side of the four-man midfield.

The game was decided by a single goal from Eric Botteghin.

Watch live for Roma-Tottenham on July 30th

There is all the time in the world to admire the Argentine ace live, starting with a match against Conte’s Tottenham with starting line-up on July 30th.