With a brace from Paulo Dybala and the first goal as “Giallorosso” from Romelu Lukaku, Roma overtook bottom-placed Empoli (7-0) on the fourth matchday of Serie A this Sunday, a result that gives a good lead to the board.
The Jose Mourinho-coached team had lost two of their first three games and were in 19th place heading into the fourth round. She is now twelfth with four points.
“We had to send a message and we did that very well, every player fulfilled their role,” Dybala told the DAZN television platform.
Roma celebrated a party at home. Dybala opened the scoring in the second minute, converting a penalty from Sebastian Walukiewicz for a handball in the box.
Six minutes later, Portuguese Renato Sanches, on loan from PSG, scored the second goal by heading in Rasmus Kristensen’s cross.
Roma went into the dressing room with a three-goal lead after an own goal from Alberto Grassi (35th).
Already in the second half, Dybala showed himself with the goal of the evening: the Argentine received on the edge of the penalty area and used a feint to get past two defenders to stay in front of the goalkeeper, whom he beat with class.
He then fed Cristante, who scored Roma’s fifth goal with a shot from 20 meters.
– Lukaku is the primary target –
In his first game as a regular since his loan move from Chelsea, Belgian giant Lukaku had an immediate impact on Empoli’s defense and managed to score in the 82nd minute before Gianluca Mancini equalized (86th).
“We played very well tonight, we wanted to win, this mission was carried out with great composure. It was a good night for everyone; It’s good that Lukaku scored, but that’s not important to me. “The most important thing is that it gives a different dimension to the team,” Mourinho said.
“But be careful, we still have a lot to do, now I have not become great and the team has achieved this victory,” added the experienced Portuguese coach.
In the other games played this Sunday, Fiorentina beat Atalanta 3-2, while Lecce took a point in Monza (1-1) to stay fourth, four points behind leaders Inter, who lost in a strangely unbalanced game against Milan on Saturday won 5:1. Madonna Derby’.
The fourth day of the Italian championship ends on Monday with two games: Salernitana hosts Turin and Hellas Verona hosts Bologna.
