Roma demolish Fiorentina
Edin Dzeko bagged a brace along with Federico Fazio and Radja Nainggolan as Roma flattened Fiorentina 4-0.
The Giallorossi needed a victory to recapture second place from Napoli and maintain their 100 per cent home record in Serie A. Mohamed Salah was on the bench after the Africa Cup of Nations Final. The hosts made the trip without injured Nikola Kalinic and Riccardo Saponara, but Federico Bernardeschi and Davide Astori returned.
Fiorentina have now lost their last five top flight trips to the Stadio Olimpico, without a win since 2012.
The Tuscans had a strong start and could’ve scored on 13 minutes when Federico Chiesa sprung the offside trap and lobbed the on-rushing Wojciech Szczesny, but Federico Fazio got back for a goal-line clearance.
Stephan El Shaarawy also got away from defenders, but Ciprian Tatarusanu timed his sliding tackle well to get the ball. Bruno Peres skimmed the far post with wonderful curler, though Tatarusanu might’ve got a fingertip to it.
Roma should’ve been 1-0 up on the half-hour when Radja Nainggolan’s delightful chipped pass found Bruno Peres unmarked, but he incredibly shinned it over from seven yards in a contender for miss of the season.
Tatarusanu did well to smother an Edin Dzeko shot after his good turn and Carlos Sanchez was booked for a terrible mistimed tackle on Emerson Palmieri.
Roma did break the deadlock when Daniele De Rossi’s inspired ball over the top allowed Dzeko to spring the offside trap, chest it down and turn to finish low past the static Tatarusanu.
Nainggolan’s free kick squirmed through the wall and Dzeko pounced, but Tatarusanu charged it down from pointblank range.
After the restart, Matias Vecino made up for a Gonzalo Rodriguez error by blocking Nainggolan from close range.
De Rossi added his second assist a of the game, as Fazio towered above Carlos Sanchez to nod the free kick in off the inside of the far post.
Antonio Rudiger drilled just wide and Dzeko thought he had a second, but Davide Astori got back for a goal-line clearance after the Carlos Sanchez misplaced pass.
When the Viola did try to push forward, they were caught on the counter for a third goal. De Rossi again was involved, a through ball sending Kevin Strootman down the left and Nainggolan controlled the cross before prodding in with the outside of the right boot from eight yards.
Fiorentina fell apart and Dzeko caught Astori in possession, going clear to drill past Tatarusanu.
It was almost 5-0 moments later, another awful misplaced pass finding Dzeko’s volley, but Tatarusanu fingertipped it round the base of the upright.
Clement Grenier was given his Roma debut in the final minutes, but he barely featured because the referee halted play without stoppages.