Roma were beaten 2-0 by Sporting CP in Lisbon, as Wojciech Szczesny made his debut and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was sent off.
The Giallorossi continued pre-season preparations and were hosted by Sporting CP on the night of their team presentation.
It was an aggressive start from the Portuguese side, though they failed to make the most of a poor Ashley Cole backpass and Bryan Ruiz nodded over the bar.
Juan Manuel Iturbe flashed a cross-shot across the six-yard box with nobody able to get the final touch.
Roma were beaten 2-0 by Sporting CP in Lisbon, as Wojciech Szczesny made his debut and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was sent off.
The Giallorossi continued pre-season preparations and were hosted by Sporting CP on the night of their team presentation.
It was an aggressive start from the Portuguese side, though they failed to make the most of a poor Ashley Cole backpass and Bryan Ruiz nodded over the bar.
Juan Manuel Iturbe flashed a cross-shot across the six-yard box with nobody able to get the final touch.
There was hardly a friendly atmosphere, Adrien Silva booked for going through the back of Salih Ucan, while Daniele De Rossi was inches away from nodding in a wayward Leandro Paredes volley on a corner.
Ismael Slimani tested Morgan De Sanctis and Francesco Totti’s snapshot was deflected past the upright.
In first half stoppages, a fine Cole cross was cleared off the head of Iturbe from six yards.
Wojciech Szczesny came on for his Roma debut in the second half and Totti just failed to get on the end of a Paredes cross from the right. Joao Mario’s screamer was just off target, but the ex-Arsenal ‘keeper was decisive when using his foot to stop Slimani scoring when clear on goal.
Rudi Garcia made eight substitutions simultaneously on the hour mark, including Mattia Destro and Milan target Alessio Romagnoli.
That perhaps left them a little unsettled, as Sporting immediately took the lead when Slimani was allowed a relatively free header into the ground from a Jefferson corner.
Szczesny prevented it becoming 2-0 moments later, parrying Fredy Montero’s glancing header at the near post from another set play.
Sporting did double their lead when Szczesny only palmed a low cross away and Mane was quickest to turn in the loose ball.
Destro hit the side-netting when sent through by Victor Ibarbo, then both Destro and Romagnoli just failed to get the final touch to an Alessandro Florenzi free kick.
Szczesny prevented a third goal in stoppages by flying to fingertip an Andre Martins header out from under the bar.
Roma ended the game with 10 men, as Yanga-Mbiwa lunged into a shocking two-footed tackle on Silva and was shown a straight red card.
Sporting 2-0 Roma
Scorers: Slimani 64 (S), Mane 70 (S)
Sporting CP: Rui Patricio (Boeck 77); Joao Pereira (Esgaio 77), Naldo (Semedo 60), Paulo Oliveira, Jefferson, Bryan Ruiz (Mane 46), Joao Mario (Tobias 60), Adrien (Wallyson 77), Carrillo (Martins 71); Slimani (Andre Martins 71), Teo Gutierrez (Montero 60)
Roma: De Sanctis (Szczesny 46); Maicon (Florenzi 59), Manolas (Yanga-Mbiwa 59), Castan (Romagnoli 59), Cole (Anocic 71); Paredes (Nainggolan 59), De Rossi (Keita 59), Uçan (Ibarbo 71); Iturbe (Destro 59), Totti (Iago Falque 59), Ljajic (Gervinho 59)
Sent off: Yanga-Mbiwa 92 (R)