Serie A | Roma 2-1 Parma: Giallorossi secure top spot

Roma secured their place as joint Serie A leaders thanks to Mario Hermoso and Artem Dovbyk goals to defeat Parma.

The Giallorossi knew only a victory would allow them to keep up with Napoli in top spot, but Angelino was still out of action, and all four seasonal defeats had been at the Stadio Olimpico. Matias Soulé returned to the starting XI with Paulo Dybala, but Evan Ferguson brought back the role of a classic centre-forward. The Ducali were without a win or a goal in three games, missing Mandela Keita, Pontus Almqvist, Emanuele Valeri, Gaetano Oristanio, Matija Frigan and Jacob Ondrejka, but Abdoulaye Ndiaye returned from suspension.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

There was an early blow, as Ferguson limped off after just seven minutes, so Leon Bailey came on for a very different attacking approach.

Wesley tested Zion Suzuki from distance and Adrian Bernabé saw his free kick sail over the bar.

Parma had a huge opportunity when Mario Hermoso failed to clear the Mateo Pellegrino cross and Ordonez forced a desperate save out of Mile Svilar.

Bailey blushes were saved by the offside flag, because he horribly scuffed the finish wide when one-on-one with Suzuki.

Roma did have the ball in the net on 43 minutes when a cross was only knocked down as far as Soulé for a half-volley into the near bottom corner from 12 yards. However, it was disallowed following a VAR On-Field Review, because Zeki Celik was offside and influencing play, as he shielded Suzuki’s view.

Dybala almost scored a rare goal for him, an acrobatic header on the Gianluca Mancini cross, but Suzuki flew to palm it out from under the crossbar in first half stoppages.

Dybala stung Suzuki’s gloves after the restart, while Manu Kone and Bryan Cristante got their finishing wrong from promising positions.

Roma finally broke the deadlock when Mario Hermoso was allowed a practically free header on a Dybala corner towards the far post.

Parma stayed in the game though, as Svilar flew to fingertip the Sorensen half-volley out from under the crossbar.

It proved crucial, because Roma doubled their lead moments later. Cristante saw his attempt charged down after combining with Artem Dovbyk, but the Ukrainian reacted quickly on the rebound to control with his back to goal and turn in.

Parma refused to give in and got one back, as Adrian Benedyczak knocked down a set play for Alessandro Circati to come sliding in from six yards.

Hermoso 63 (R), Dovbyk 81 (R), Circati 86 (P)