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A metronomic performance rounded off with a wonder strike sees Miralem Pjanic named Week 4’s best performer in Serie A, as Livio Caferoglu explains.

This time last season, Roma were destroying opponents in their wake. Such an electrifying start to 2013-14 was rewarded with a place in the record books, but the Giallorossi were unable to maintain their intensity over 38 games and eventually settled for a runners-up finish.

Nevertheless, it was a magnificent achievement from a squad which had suffered from much turbulence on the pitch and behind the scenes since their American takeover in 2011. However, one of their constants in that timeframe and through their rise under Rudi Garcia has been Miralem Pjanic.

The Bosnian has spent the past three seasons quietly bedding into the fulcrum of the Roma system, and against Parma on Wednesday night, he proved that he could typify all of the traits that this current side once lacked and now pride themselves in.

Despite taking the lead early on through Adem Ljajic, the Giallorossi were soon pegged back by a Paolo De Ceglie header. With Juventus easing to victory over Cesena, the permutations of two dropped points would have dented any early-season momentum.

However, Pjanic’s influence did not waver in the same vein as Roma’s scoreline. Instead, he continually made himself available for teammates, as demonstrated by his 112 touches of the ball. In terms of distribution, he went one better, converting 93 per cent of his 112 passes at the Tardini. In Eurofantasyleague.com's player ratings he secured an impressive 20 points.

And with three minutes of normal time remaining, the spotlight finally fell on him. When the capital outfit were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, up stepped the former Lyon man, who curled a dipping drive towards the top-right corner of Antonio Mirante’s net.

Some may say that passing statistics are as misleading as ball possession. Of course, both are sterile in their own rights, but no quantitative indicator can measure influence, and the 24-year-old showed the nerve needed to salvage a 2-1 victory for his team.

So while Roma may have started this season similarly to last, a steely underbelly is now in their armoury. This has been the consequence of bringing in pedigree over the summer and the learning curve of challenging for a League title, the latter of which Pjanic has embraced.

Another difference can be seen in the less-emphatic nature of their domestic results. Again, this is a sign of their increasing superiority in Serie A. Only two years ago, teams faced Roma without fear. Now, conservative tactics designed to stifle rather than exploit are their most common obstacle.

On paper, Roma have ironed out all of their past weaknesses, and in Pjanic, they also possess a playmaker who is ready to reach the world-class level he has promised since scoring the goal which knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League at the Last 16 stage with Lyon in 2010.

“Mire is the little prince… our little prince,” declared Francesco Totti in the wake of yesterday’s result. It appears the heir to the king of Rome has been found.