Following a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Porto in the second and decisive leg of the Europa League Knockout Phase Playoffs last week, which saw Roma qualify for the Round of 16 next month against Athletic Club Bilbao, Claudio Ranieri’s team needed an easy day at the office—the kind of match where you didn’t have to hold your breath and worry that the Giallorossi might fall victim to a fluke goal, the referee overlooking a clear penalty, or even an act of God, and that’s exactly what they received.
With another jampacked crowd at the Stadio Olimpico for a rare Monday night fixture, Ranieri went deep into the well, shuffling his starting lineup after a brutal stretch that saw the club play nine matches in approximately 30…