Serie A | Sassuolo 0-1 Roma: Dybala sends Giallorossi top

Paulo Dybala’s first Serie A goal of the season proved enough to beat Sassuolo and send Roma to the top of the table alongside Napoli.

The Giallorossi had the opportunity to go joint top of the table, but had also lost three of their last four games, including Thursday’s 2-1 to Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League. Angelino was the only absentee, but Matias Soulé was rested, with Paulo Dybala used as a False 9 and Leon Bailey getting his first start. The Neroverdi had seven points from three rounds and brought Alieu Fadera into the trident attack, with ex-Roma man Nemanja Matic in midfield. Tarik Muharemovic, Yeferson Paz, Daniel Boloca and Edoardo Pieragnolo missed out.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was an aggressive start from the hosts, as after a strong Aliou Fadera run from midfield, Kristian Thorstvedt got the header all wrong from seven yards. Mile Svilar then flew to palm away a deflected Fadera strike, but it was Roma who broke the deadlock.

Bryan Cristante surged forward on the Dybala lay-off and saw his effort parried by Arijanet Muric, but only into the path of La Joya to finish it off on the rebound. It was his first Serie A goal of the season.

Manu Koné charged down a powerful Sebastian Walukiewicz strike, and from the resulting corner Thorstvedt nodded wide when he should’ve left it for Filippo Romagna behind him.

Neil El Aynaoui’s effort was straight at Muric, who had to rush off his line to smother at Cristante’s feet after an inspired Dybala pass.

Bailey had his boot torn apart by a Josh Doig foul just outside the area, so had to finish the half with it wrapped in duct tape, while Dybala’s free kick hit the side-netting.

Sassuolo lost Romagna to injury, while Mario Hermoso replaced the disappointing Kostas Tsimikas and within 60 seconds had been booked for a raised elbow on Doig inches outside the area.

Zeki Celik stung the goalkeeper’s gloves at the near post on a Dybala lay-off, but Sassuolo saw Domenico Berardi forced off after a bizarre head injury when he crossed paths with Cristante and fell very awkwardly.

Lorenzo Pellegrini came on and within 120 seconds had almost doubled Roma’s lead, as his delicate dink beat the goalkeeper only to bounce off the upright on Artem Dovbyk’s assist.

Wesley could’ve rolled across for Dovbyk, but instead tested Muric himself at the near post, while the Brazilian stood up a cross for Zeki Celik’s header over the bar.

It was a strong ending to the game for Wesley, who also flashed a great right-foot finish across the face of goal to skim the back post.

The result remained open though, as Gianluca Mancini threw himself in the way of a Walid Cheddira angled drive at the near post in stoppages.

Pellegrini also threatened again with a right-foot curler from outside the box that Muric pushed round the far post with one glove.