Roma did the bare minimum to beat Bologna with an early Lorenzo Pellegrini penalty after some surprising Jose Mourinho picks and a last-gasp Tammy Abraham goal-line clearance.
This was an emotional occasion, the first competitive match since the death of former Bologna coach and ex-Roma player Sinisa Mihajlovic, with a joint tribute before kick-off.
Jose Mourinho sat out a touchline ban in the stands along with injured Georginio Wijnaldum and Ebrima Darboe, but Paulo Dybala was ready to start just two weeks after winning the World Cup with Argentina. Tammy Abraham was dropped for False 9 Nicolò Zaniolo with 19-year-old Benjamin Tahirovic getting his first start. Bologna missed Joshua Zirkzee, Musa Barrow, Lorenzo De Silvestri and Kevin Bonifazi.
It was the ideal start for the hosts, as Dybala got the first touch to a Zaniolo through ball and went down under the Jhon Lucumi challenge. Lorenzo Pellegrini kept his cool to convert the early penalty.
Riccardo Orsolini’s acrobatic attempt was well over and Bryan Cristante fired straight at Lukasz Skorupski after a midfield turnover.
Dybala saw his effort loop inches over the bar and Zaniolo blasted wide from a promising position, then after the restart Zaniolo forced a tricky save from a tight angle.
There was a triple Bologna chance with Marko Arnautovic blocked from close range, Chris Smalling charging down Orsolini’s shot and eventually Lucumi straight at Rui Patricio.
The visitors were furious on 70 minutes when Lewis Ferguson was booked for simulation, though this was a harsh decision considering some contact with Nemanja Matic. VAR evaluated and opted against a penalty, but Thiago Motta was booked for his protests.
Roma increasingly sat deeper and deeper to defend their slender lead, not helped by Zaniolo and Dybala going off with cramp.
It should’ve been 1-1 with the last kick of the game when Dominguez flicked on a corner for the Lucumi looping header, but Abraham got back for a decisive goal-line clearance.
Roma 1-0 Bologna
Pellegrini pen 6 (R)