Resurgent Roma put on a sumptuous performance to beat relegation-threatened Cagliari 4-0 at the Stadio Olimpico and climb to fifth in the Serie A table. New manager Daniele De Rossi maintained his 100% win ratio after three games in charge in one of Giallorossi’s most eventful showings of 2023/24.
It took Roma only 63 seconds into the game to break the deadlock. Paulo Dybala whipped the ball into the box from a corner, with Lorenzo Pellegrini finding the net in his third consecutive league appearance under De Rossi to put the home side in front.
The Giallorossi captain turned from a goalscorer into a provider, squeezing the ball through for Dybala, who latched on to it and hammered it home from point-blank range to double Roma’s advantage in the 23rd minute.
Andrea Petagna’s reckless handball inside the penalty area resulted in a spot-kick for Dybala. The Argentine was relentless, sending Simone Scuffet the wrong way to make it 3-0 for Roma at the start of the second half. But it wasn’t the end of the hosts’ stunning victory.
Four minutes after replacing Diego Llorente, Dean Huijsen headed home Leandro Paredes’ perfectly-taken corner-kick to add to Cagliari’s misery on the stroke of the hour mark. Though there was still plenty of time for both sides to change the scoreline, the score remained intact.
It’s time to look at our Roma ratings.
Roma (4-3-3)
Rui Patricio – 7
Though the veteran goalkeeper only had to make three saves, his diving effort to thwart Gianluca Lapadula’s strike from the edge of the box late in the first half stood out.
Angelino – 7
What a way to introduce himself to the Roma fanbase! The attacking-minded left-back delivered an eye-catching performance to convince De Rossi he’d be a better option than Leonardo Spinazzola.
Diego Llorente – 6.5
With Roma dominating the game, the Spanish center-back’s main task was to help in the build-up play, though he almost lost track of Lapadula, forcing Patricio to make a last-ditch save.
Gianluca Mancini – 7
Back at the heart of the backline after playing on the right during Jose Mourinho’s reign, the Italian enjoyed an impressive evening, winning virtually every duel on the ground, not to mention in the air.
Rick Karsdorp – 6.5
Equally dependable on both ends of the field, the Dutch right-back pieced together arguably his best showing of the season.
Lorenzo Pellegrini – 7.5
Added to his tally under De Rossi and chipped in with a clever assist to round off a telling display. Like Dybala, he was on a different level tonight.
Leandro Paredes – 7
In addition to picking up a rare assist, the Argentine midfield metronome established himself as a dominant figure in the engine room, controlling the tempo with his pinpoint passing and tireless runs.
Bryan Cristante – 6
Not as decisive as his abovementioned midfield colleagues but influential enough to help Roma win the midfield battle. Unlucky to see his first-team volley rattle off the post early on.
Stephan El Shaarawy – 6
Back to his favorite left-winger position, the ex-Milan forward showed glimpses of his brilliance yet had an atypically quiet game by his standards.
Paulo Dybala – 8
He’s a different kind of beast on his day, as evidenced by a mesmerizing performance that ripped Cagliari into pieces!
Romelu Lukaku – 6.5
Played a smart dummy to accommodate Dybala for Roma’s second and fought aggressively to add a new dimension to his side’s attack despite failing to get on the scoresheet.
Substitutes
Dean Huijsen – 7
Edoardo Bove – 6.5
Nicola Zalewski – 6
Rasmus Kristensen – 6
Tommaso Baldanzi – 6.5
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