Roma’s night started badly and got worse in a 4-3 defeat to Sassuolo, as Armand Laurienté ran riot and Marash Kumbulla saw red, but they never stopped fighting.
The Giallorossi had the opportunity to catch Inter in second place with a victory, but Lorenzo Pellegrini, Andrea Belotti and suspended Bryan Cristante all missed out. Paulo Dybala and Gianluca Mancini were rested, so Chris Smalling was captain. Jose Mourinho started his two-match ban, prompting a ‘pañolada’ protest from the crowd – waving white handkerchiefs. The Neroverdi had Domenico Berardi back from suspension, still without Mert Muldur and Filippo Romagna, but won four of their last six games.
In the opening minutes, Gini Wijnaldum fired straight at Andrea Consigli when springing the offside trap, while Tammy Abraham’s chest and volley bobbled wide.
However, Sassuolo took the lead with their first real foray forward. Edoardo Bove couldn’t control a wayward Stephan El Shaarawy pass in midfield to spark a counter-attack, Smalling threw himself in the way of Davide Frattesi’s strike, then Rui Patricio got a glove to the Andrea Pinamonti follow-up, but could do nothing on an Armand Laurienté tap-in.
That was the first goal Roma had conceded at home in 2023, but it was quickly followed by another one.
Berardi nutmegged Leonardo Spinazzola and forced a save from Rui Patricio at the near post, but managed to pull it back for Laurienté to drill home from 10 yards.
Roma did get back into it, Spinazzola floating a cross to the back post for Nicola Zalewski, whose volley into the ground bounced over a surprised Consigli. It was with his weaker foot and perhaps not entirely what was intended, but still his first senior goal for the club.
Wijnaldum nodded Zalewski’s cross wide in a frantic start to this contest, while Laurienté blasted over from just inside the box and Rui Patricio flew to palm a Pinamonti effort out from under the bar.
However, the game took another twist in first half stoppages. Berardi pounced on a loose ball to force a Rui Patricio save in the six-yard box, but Marash Kumbulla stupidly kicked out at the Sassuolo captain in a reaction foul. It was spotted by VAR and, as the ball was still technically in play albeit in Rui Patricio’s arms, resulted in both a red card and a penalty that Berardi converted.
Paulo Dybala and Rick Karsdorp came on for the restart, La Joya’s corner nodded just over by Roger Ibanez, while Berardi’s rocket skimmed the bar.
Dybala made an impact immediately, that left boot of his swinging a perfect finish into the far top corner from the edge of the box for 2-3.
Yet 30 seconds later it was almost 2-4, because Berardi unleashed his own legendary left foot and cracked a shot against the Roma crossbar.
The hosts were furious that Nemanja Matic was booked for a sliding tackle on Frattesi, as he was convinced he got the ball, but Laurienté turned the free kick over. Another angry protest saw match analyst Giovanni Marra sent off from the Roma bench.
Wijnaldum attempted a back-heel flick on a Dybala corner, then Consigli got down quickly to beat away a ferocious daisy-cutter from Zalewski outside the box.
Instead, Sassuolo added a fourth as Laurienté threaded through for Pinamonti to delicately dink it over the on-rushing Rui Patricio.
Roma refused to give in, as Dybala ran from midfield and held off Pedro Obiang to force a rather clumsy save from Consigli, while Nedim Bajrami’s free kick was flapped away.
Deep into stoppages, Smalling’s through ball allowed Wijnaldum to spring the offside trap and his quality chip surprised Consigli for 3-4, his first goal for the club.
Roma 3-4 Sassuolo
Laurienté 13, 18 (S), Zalewski 26 (R), Berardi pen 45 (S), Dybala 50 (R), Pinamonti 75 (S), Wijnaldum 94 (R)
Sent off: Kumbulla 45 (R)
Player statistic
| Chris Smalling |  |
9' | ||
| 13' |  |
Armand Lauriente | ||
| 18' | |
Armand Lauriente (Assist: Domenico Berardi) | ||
| Nicola Zalewski (Assist: Leonardo Spinazzola) |
|
26' | ||
| Marash Kumbulla |  |
45+3' | ||
| 45+4' |  |
Domenico Berardi |
| 50' | |
Maxime Lopez | ||
| Paulo Dybala (Assist: Stephan El Shaarawy) |
|
51' | ||
| Nemanja Matic | |
54' | ||
| 58' | |
Ruan Tressoldi | ||
| Roger Ibañez | |
73' | ||
| 75' | |
Andrea Pinamonti (Assist: Armand Lauriente) | ||
| Mady Camara | |
86' | ||
| Georginio Wijnaldum (Assist: Chris Smalling) |
|
90+4' |
Match statistic
