Dzeko in top form as Roma wins 4-0 at Benevento
Edin Dzeko was in top form as Roma comfortably won 4-0 at promoted Benevento in Serie A on Wednesday.
Dzeko scored twice, his presence led to two own goals, plus he hit both the post and crossbar.
Roma moved into fifth place, four points behind leader Inter Milan, with a game in hand.
Dzeko put Roma ahead with a tap-in midway through the first half following solid work on the flank and an accurate cross from Aleksandar Kolarov.
Dzeko hit the post at the halfhour mark, before being in position to redirect a cross from Bruno Peres when defender Fabio Lucioni knocked the ball into his own net.
Shortly after the break, Dzeko — who led Serie A with 29 goals last season — scored his fifth of the season with a shot from just outside the area.
In the 74th, a cross from Kolarov was turned into Benevento's net by defender Lorenzo Venuti with Dzeko again well positioned to score. Dzeko then hit the crossbar. Later, Juventus was looking to extend its perfect start when it hosted Fiorentina. Napoli, the only other team not to drop any points, was visiting Lazio.
Benevento, which is making its top-division debut, is the only team in the league without a point. It's been a difficult stretch for the southern club, which was routed 6-0 by regional rival Napoli on Sunday.
Milan put SPAL on the spot
Penalties from Ricardo Rodriguez and Franck Kessie allowed Milan to send SPAL towards a third straight defeat.
The Rossoneri had won every match this season between Serie A and the Europa League, save for a 4-1 defeat at Lazio.
Vincenzo Montella was without Andrea Conti, Riccardo Montolivo and Luca Antonelli, so reshuffled with Hakan Calhanoglu supporting Andre Silva and Nikola Kalinic.
SPAL started strong, but then lost two on the bounce, missing Alex Meret, Marios Oikonomou, Sergio Floccari and Luca Rizzo.
Alberto Paloschi provided an early scare against his former club, as Alessio Romagnoli was caught in possession, but the striker was penalised for a small nudge. Andre Silva scuffed his finish from seven yards on a Franck Kessie pull-back, then Alfred Gomis palmed an Ignazio Abate rising drive out from under the bar.
After a series of corners, Gomis parried a Ricardo Rodriguez snapshot and stretched out a hand to trip Kalinic on the rebound.
Rodriguez sent the goalkeeper the wrong way for a clear penalty.
Gianluigi Donnarumma had to be alert to dive on to a loose ball from a corner after Dias Felipe’s back-heel flick.
SPAL nearly equalised on 52 minutes, as Leonardo Bonucci had to clear Federico Mattiello’s header practically off the line.
However, Milan received another penalty when Abate’s shot was deflected into the path of Kessie and he was brought down by Felipe. The former Atalanta midfielder converted the spotkick himself.
Napoli turnaround sinks Lazio
Stefan de Vrij had given Lazio the lead, but injuries took their toll and Napoli turned it around to win 4-1, including an incredible Dries Mertens strike.
These were two of the form sides in Italy going into the Stadio Olimpico, as the Aquile were still unbeaten between Serie A, the Europa League and Italian Super Cup, while the Partenopei had a 100 per cent domestic record. Neapolitan striker Ciro Immobile was also facing off with Dries Mertens in the Capocannoniere race, but Felipe Anderson and Wallace were still out injured.
Yesterday Benevento-AS Roma ...................... 0-4 Dzeko 22’, Lucioni 35’ og, Dzeko 52’, Venuti 74’ og AC Milan-Spal ................................ 2-0 Rodriguez 26’ pen, Kessie 61’ pen Atalanta-Crotone ........................... 5-1 Petagna 5’ (A), Caldara 25’ (A), Ilicic 38’ (A), Gomez 63’ (A), Tumminello 70’ (C), Gomez 74’ pen (A) Cagliari-Sassuolo ............................ 0-1 Matri 60’ Genoa-Chievo ................................ 1-1 Laxalt 62’ (G), Gamberini 73’ (C) Juventus-Fiorentina ....................... 1-0 Mandzukic 52’ Lazio-Napoli ................................... 1-4 de Vrij 30’ (L), Koulibaly 54’ (N), Callejon 56’ (N), Mertens 59’ (N), Jorginho 90+2 (N) Udinese-Torino .............................. 2-3 Belotti 9’ (T), Hallfredsson 30’ og (T), De Paul 48’ pen (U), Ljajic 67’ (T), Lasagna 75’ (U) Verona-Sampdoria ......................... 0-0
Standings
Napoli Juventus Inter AC Milan Torino Lazio AS Roma Sampdoria Atalanta Fiorentina Cagliari Chievo Bologna Sassuolo Spal Udinese Genoa Verona Crotone Benevento 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Serie C - Group A 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 2 1 0 0 2 2 1 1 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 4 3 3 4 5 19 14 11 10 10 10 9 6 9 8 4 5 4 3 3 7 5 1 1 1 3 15 3 15 2 13 6 12 5 11 8 10 3 9 4 8 7 7 7 6 6 6 8 5 7 5 8 4 8 4 10 3 9 2 11 2 11 1 14 0
Yesterday Livorno-Lucchese ............................. 3-0
Serie C - Group B
Yesterday Fermana-Sambenedettese .............. 2-0