Serie A | Monza 1-4 Roma: Unstoppable Giallorossi

Roma march on under Daniele De Rossi with a dominant 4-1 win away to Monza, including splendid Lorenzo Pellegrini, Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala goals.

Rick Karsdorp and Tammy Abraham were still out of action, while Armando Izzo was suspended for the hosts, plus Gianluca Caprari and Samuele Vignato long-term absentees.

See how the game unfolded on the Liveblog.

Evan Ndicka put himself on the line with brave defending to stop Milan Djuric volleying in just 60 seconds into the match, accidentally kicked in the nose for his trouble.

Michele Di Gregorio needed a very tricky save with his trailing hand as Lorenzo Pellegrini completed a give and go with Romelu Lukaku for the curler from the edge of the area.

Djuric was a constant threat and his header thumped the base of the near post on Andrea Colpani’s cross.

However, Roma won a corner after Pablo Mari cleared the Lukaku cross-shot in the six-yard box. On the resulting set play, Dybala pulled back from the by-line for Bryan Cristante to redirect with the inside of the right boot from 14 yards. After a long VAR check, the goal was disallowed for Dybala’s offside position in the build-up.

Roberto Gagliardini and Rasmus Kristensen went off injured in the opening 25 minutes. Zeki Celik came on and immediately made a crucial block on fellow substitute Valentin Carboni from close range.

Samuele Birindelli also skimmed the far post with an angled drive after running onto a long ball, but Roma did take the lead soon after.

Despite losing his balance, Lukaku still managed to redirect the Cristante pass towards Lorenzo Pellegrini, who rode a Birindelli tackle and threaded a finish through the eye of a needle into the far bottom corner with the inside of the left boot.

Roma doubled their advantage moments later, as Dybala burst down the left and rolled across, where Lukaku reacted quicker than anyone else to sweep in from close range. It was the Belgian’s first Serie A goal in six weeks.

🅰️ Paulo Dybala
⚽️ Romelu Lukaku

The Belgian gives Roma a two goal 💪 pic.twitter.com/3v0FzUAcr8

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 2, 2024

It was almost 3-0 in first half stoppages, but Di Gregorio used his legs to deny Lukaku from point-blank range on a Celik roll across from the right.

Djuric blasted over from a Birindelli pull-back and Andrea Carboni’s free header on a corner was over the bar, as Monza came out fighting for the second half.

Instead, Roma added a third with a moment of sheer magic from Dybala, who curled the left-foot free kick over the wall to dip viciously into the near bottom corner, as Di Gregorio was unsighted. La Joya had not scored a direct free kick in Serie A since Juventus-Brescia in February 2020.

The very best of Paulo Dybala 💎

A vintage free-kick from the in form Argentinian! pic.twitter.com/y1AtU9KU9s

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 2, 2024

Monza kept pushing, as Daniel Maldini went on a mazy run, then Andrea Carboni failed to turn in his cross before Mile Svilar pushed the Warren Bondo strike over the bar.

Bondo was involved negatively when pulling Dean Huijsen over on a corner kick and a penalty was awarded following a VAR On-Field Review, allowing Leandro Paredes to bury the spot-kick into the top corner.

Leandro Paredes wraps up the result from the spot for Roma 🎯

Danielle De Rossi's side move to within a point of the top four ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/hGVC4BrlSo

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 2, 2024

Monza did get a consolation goal, as after missing a couple of earlier sitters, Andrea Carboni got his debut Serie A strike with a left-foot screamer from distance into the near top corner.

Andrea Carboni scores a stunning consolation goal for Monza against Roma 🚀 pic.twitter.com/muWTpzeq2b

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 2, 2024

Monza 1-4 Roma

Pellegrini 38 (R), Lukaku 42 (R), Dybala 63 (R), Paredes pen 82 (R), A Carboni 87 (M)