Houssem Aouar got his first goal and Roma rattled the crossbar twice, but huge defensive errors were costly in a 2-1 defeat to Verona.
Jose Mourinho was still sitting out a touchline ban, but he had Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini back from suspension after the 2-2 draw with Salernitana. Renato Sanches joined Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla on the treatment table. Hellas started their season with a win in Empoli and had Marco Davide Faraoni and Isak Hien available after bans, but Darko Lazovic, Thomas Henry, Ajdin Hrustic and Jayden Braaf were injured.
It was a dismal start for the Giallorossi, as Verona broke on the counter-attack from a free kick, Rui Patricio only parried the long-range Filippo Terracciano strike into the path of Ondrej Duda to tap in.
Roma tried to react, Bryan Cristante’s glancing header from a Pellegrini corner thumping the crossbar.
Dybala went on a mazy run and fell in the box, but was booked for simulation, perhaps a little harsh as he was lightly grazed, though not enough for a penalty.
Pellegrini had a remarkable solo effort, trapping the ball, turning away from three defenders with some great footwork only to skim the upright.
Dybala tested Lorenzo Montipò from close range and Nicola Zalewski had beaten the goalkeeper, only to be denied by a Magnani block.
A penalty was awarded on 42 minutes for a Martin Hongla handball, but that was revoked via VAR because Pellegrini’s header hit him on the stomach instead.
In first half stoppages, Roma were again caught out on the counter from their own set play, Cyril Ngonge starting the run from his own half to cut inside Chris Smalling and score.
Stand-in coach Bruno Conti made a triple change at the break and lost Nicola Zalewski too after an accidental clash of heads left him rather dazed.
Montipò flew to palm a Stephan El Shaarawy half-volley out from under the bar, then on the resulting corner he parried Gianluca Mancini’s glancing header.
Roma got one back when Belotti battled to redirect a Pellegrini shot and get the header before Montipò, allowing Houssem Aouar to nod into an empty net for his first Giallorossi goal.
Aouar was sent through by El Shaarawy again, but striker Michael Folorunsho sprinted back for the decisive block.
Isak Hien brought down Belotti as he ran onto a long ball and initially there was a yellow card, changed to a red after the VAR on-field review. From the resulting free kick, Roma almost equalised, as Pellegrini’s ferocious free kick went over the wall and bounced off the underside of the crossbar.
Cristante’s volley was kept low but just wide, as Roma poured forward against 10 men through over 10 minutes of injury time, Mancini forcing a save and Cristante’s header off target.
Verona 2-1 Roma
Duda 4 (V), Ngonge 45 (V), Aouar 56 (R)
Sent off: Hien 84 (V)
Player statistic
| Ondrej Duda |  |
4' | ||
| 13' |  |
Paulo Dybala | ||
| Cyril Ngonge (Assist: Ondrej Duda) |
|
45+4' |
| 56' | |
Houssem Aouar (Assist: Andrea Belotti) | ||
| 62' | |
Houssem Aouar | ||
| Pawel Dawidowicz | |
64' | ||
| 68' | |
Lorenzo Pellegrini | ||
| Isak Hien |  |
84' |
Match statistic
