Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante are two of the longest-serving players in the current Roma squad, but there is a growing sense that their time as regular starters is coming to an end.
Many supporters have grown weary of the pair lining up alongside one another, when Roma could use other options – but recently, the tide might just have begun to turn.
There was not a single instance in the 2023-24 season of Roma starting a game without either Pellegrini or Cristante in the starting lineup, but that streak was broken 13 games into the 2024-25 season – so here’s a look back at all the other times it has occurred since Cristante joined the club in 2018 (bearing in mind Pellegrini has been there since a year before him, following his return to the club).
Alongside the date and result of each match is a quick reference to whether or not either of them came on as a substitute, and there is a conclusion of the outcomes at the end – which might not be quite what you would expect…
31/10/24 – Roma 1-0 Torino (both came on)
22/5/23 – Roma 2-2 Salernitana (both on)
12/3/23 – Roma 3-4 Sassuolo (neither)
10/3/22 – Vitesse 0-1 Roma (both on)
8/2/22 – Inter 2-0 Roma (both on)
16/1/22 – Roma 1-0 Cagliari (neither)
1/12/21 – Bologna 1-0 Roma (Cristante on)
25/11/21 – Roma 4-0 Zorya (neither)
21/10/21 – Bodo/Glimt 6-1 Roma (both on)
11/4/21 – Roma 1-0 Bologna (Pellegrini on)
20/12/20 – CSKA Sofia 3-1 Roma (neither)
24/6/20 – Roma 2-1 Sampdoria (both on)
12/12/19 – Roma 2-2 Wolfsberger (Pellegrini on)
10/11/19 – Parma 2-0 Roma (neither)
7/11/19 – Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 Roma (neither)
2/11/19 – Roma 2-1 Napoli (neither)
30/10/19 – Udinese 0-4 Roma (neither)
27/10/19 – Roma 2-1 Milan (neither)
24/10/19 – Roma 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach (neither)
6/3/19 – Porto 3-1 Roma (both on)
29/10/18 – Roma 3-1 Lazio (both on)
26/9/18 – Roma 4-0 Frosinone (neither on)
19/9/18 – Real Madrid 3-0 Roma (Pellegrini on)
31/8/18 – Milan 2-1 Roma (Cristante on)
19/8/18 – Torino 0-1 Roma (Cristante on)
Overall records
Played: 25
Won: 12
Drew: 3
Lost: 10
The balance of results with and without the two Italian midfielders starting is actually quite even – although it must be remembered that there was a time, particularly in Pellegrini’s case, when they weren’t generally viewed as burdensome.
Roma have earned on average 1.56 points per game when Pellegrini and Cristante have both been absent from the starting lineup over the past six years. As a comparison, on the 302 occasions when at least one of them always started, the average points per game record was 1.72, which may contradict what the pair’s critics think.
Of course, in some of these games where neither started, one or both came on as subs. In terms of the ensuing results, over the eight times when both came on, Roma won four times, drew once and lost three times (1.63 points per game). When just Cristante came on, Roma won once and lost twice (1.00 points per game). And when just Pellegrini came on, there was one win, one draw and one loss (1.33 points per game).
As for the 11 instances when neither played any part in the match, Roma picked up six wins, one draw and four losses, at an average of 1.73 points per game – slightly better still than that aforementioned record from when at least one was always involved from the start.
The most important thing is what combinations are going to get Roma the most points possible now. Of the newer midfielders who may be playing their part in Pellegrini and Cristante being phased out, Roma have earned 1.71 points per game while Manu Kone has started this season, 1.57 for Niccolo Pisilli and 2.33 for Enzo Le Fee (whose sample size is smaller). Crucially, their first game without Pellegrini and Cristante starting for over 500 days ended with all three points; perhaps it won’t be anywhere near as long before the next time it happens.
Since the publication of this article, other games in which neither Cristante nor Pellegrini have started have been:
28/11/24 – Tottenham 2-2 Roma (neither on)
7/12/24 – Roma 4-1 Lecce (neither on)
15/12/24 – Como 2-0 Roma (Pellegrini on)
22/12/24 – Roma 5-0 Parma (neither on)
29/12/24 – Milan 1-1 Roma (Pellegrini on)
23/1/25 – AZ 1-0 Roma (neither on)
5/2/25 – Milan 3-1 Roma (Pellegrini on)
16/2/25 – Parma 0-1 Roma (Pellegrini on)
16/3/25 – Roma 1-0 Cagliari (Cristante on)
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