Roma average across the board in Luciano Spalletti's debut

Luciano Spalletti started his second reign at Roma in the same way that Rudi Garcia's ended; submerged with boos and whistles from a half-full Stadio Olimpico after a deeply disappointing home draw that leaves his team way off the pace in Serie A.

Roma's 1-1 draw with rock-bottom Hellas Verona was a distillation of every problem that has dogged Roma so far this season: from Edin Dzeko's chronic lack of form in front of goal, to uncertainty at the back that allowed the league's 

worst side -- one that is yet to win a game this season -- way too many chances at goal.

Spalletti's team stay fifth but are now nine points behind league leaders Napoli and seven away from the second automatic Champions League slot, currently occupied by Juventus. With each week that passes by, Roma drift away from the leading pack.

Roma hit the post twice, first through Dzeko in the lead-up to Radja Nainggolan's neatly-taken opener five minutes before the break, then 10 minutes later through Mohamed Salah, who was unlucky to see his well-struck volley pushed onto the woodwork by Verona keeper Pierluigi Gollini.

However, Verona forward Ante Rebic, who had already forced Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny into a fine save after 17 minutes, struck the inside of the post 50 minutes in, and the Pole also had to be at his best to tip away Artur Ionita's left-footed effort just two minutes before.

Roma's sluggish defending was summed up by Leandro Castan, who in his first start since late November clumsily chopped down Pawel Wszolek on the hour and allowed to Giampaolo Pazzini to score just his second of the season from the penalty spot.

Roma's wonky attacking, meanwhile, is personified in Dzeko, who after making the worst of a host of opportunities, capped his afternoon by fluffing the chance to win the match, somehow heading Miralem Pjanic's injury time corner over from just six yards out when completely unmarked.

Next Sunday, Roma have to travel to Juventus, who strolled to their 10th straight win at Udinese while Spalletti's side toiled against Verona. Spalletti has a lot of work to do if he wants to avoid an embarrassment.