The Bench's Impact on Champions League Qualification: Gasperini's Squad Revitalized

The physical decline of Gasperini's team in recent times is evident: from an athletic standpoint, the squad isn't performing as it did in its best months. The results of the last month reflect a challenging period for the coach's players, who nonetheless remain firmly in contention for a Champions League spot.

Injuries have played a decisive role, severely depleting the squad. Among the most impactful are those of Dovbyk, Ferguson, and Dybala; the first two, though not having shone before their respective stoppages, would still have been valuable for rotation. Soulé's pubalgia further weakened an already struggling offensive department. Additionally, the absences of Hermoso and El Shaarawy have further limited the coach's available options.

This situation has prevented Gasperini from making the desired impact during matches. One striking statistic highlights this: since the match against Napoli, the coach has utilized all five substitutions on only four occasions (away against Napoli, and then against Genoa, Como, and Lecce). The Europa League return leg against Bologna, which lasted 120 minutes, was particularly telling, as only four out of six available changes were made. This is noteworthy considering Gasperini's previous statement on the eve of Milan-Roma: "I've never liked five substitutions, but I've adapted and I always use them."

However, the scenario has shifted since November: Gasperini has found himself almost forced to forgo a crucial tool that could inject new energy into his squad during decisive moments. The significance of substitutions is also evident in the numbers: since the game against Napoli, Roma has conceded 6 of their 17 total goals from substitute players – Alisson Santos, Boga, Gatti, Vitinha, Douvikas, and Cambiaghi. These goals were all decisive for the final results, contributing to Roma's distance from fourth place and their elimination from the Europa League, further compounded by two assists from Giovane and Dallinga.

The four goals and single assist provided by Roma's bench have had only a partial impact: Pisilli scored the third goal in a 3-0 win against Cremonese, a goal that was ultimately insignificant for securing the three points, and Pellegrini found the equalizer for 3-3 in the Europa League return leg, though his entry came after just 20 minutes. More decisive, however, were the goals from player number 7, who scored the 1-1 equalizer away at Bologna in the Europa League, and Vaz, who netted the winning goal against Lecce.

During this same period, differences emerge when comparing with Como and Juventus. Como, for instance, scored only one goal from their bench – precisely through Douvikas against Roma – while conceding none. Juventus, meanwhile, netted three goals from their substitutes, two of which were against Roma, and conceded only one league goal from a sub. Additionally, they conceded one goal and provided one assist from their bench in the Champions League.

Therefore, especially in the final stretch of the season when energy levels are at their lowest, the bench can become a decisive factor, significantly influencing the fate of Gasperini's team. The conclusion of the championship will also depend on the ability to recover energy and players. In this regard, the development of Vaz, alongside Soulé's return to the squad and Angelino's 15 minutes of play, represents a positive sign for Gasperini, who will finally have more options at his disposal for this final part of the season.