Roma-Fiorentina, here’s the video with highlights and highlights of Sunday evening’s Serie A match on December 10, with moviola episodes and report cards.
At the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, it’s a challenge in view of Champions League placement between Jose Mourinho’s men and Vincenzo Italiano’s. Roma and Fiorentina are in fact both fighting for a Champions League spot. The Viola, after their success in the Coppa Italia on penalties against Parma, must face a resurgent Roma, knowing that an eventual success would allow them to overtake in the standings precisely the Mourinho-coached team, ahead by just one point.
Mou relies on the usual attacking pair of Dybala and Lukaku. In defense and midfield, the choices are almost forced due to the many absences. Fiorentina changes almost the entire lineup that took the field on Wednesday in the Coppa Italia. Terracciano returns in goal. Italiano deploys three quarterbacks behind Nzola.
Highlights of the challenge
Mourinho’s Giallorossi manage to unlock the result right away. As early as 5′, Cristante triggers Dybala, who then puts in a nice outside cross for Lukaku: the Belgian scores with a header. On 14′, Dybala again comes up with a dangerous move, but his shot ends wide. Fiorentina’s first attack comes only at 17′, with Nzola, closed down very well by Rui Patricio. The Argentine is then forced off at 24′ after contact with Arthur. And after Dyabala’s exit, Roma begins to struggle to create play. Lukaku gobbles up the double in the 40′.
The Viola started off strong in the second half: Ikoné attempted a shot hitting the mirror but the Giallorossi goalkeeper saved. After a good action, at 63′, Bonaventura arrives the shot and hits the crossbar. Zalewski picked up a double yellow in 64′ leaving Roma in ten and a minute later Fiorentina scored through Martinez Quarta on an assist from Kouamé. In the final Quarta could score on a corner to make it 1-2, but Rui Patricio closes with a miracle. Then came a direct red to Lukaku in the 87th minute. Third red for the match to Milenkovic at the end of the match.
Roma-Fiorentina scoreboard and report cards
ROMA (3-5-2): Rui Patricio; Mancini, LIorente, N’Dicka; Kristensen, Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini (85′, Bove), Zalewski; Dybala (26′, Azmoun, 62′, El Shaarawy), Lukaku. All: Mourinho
FIORENTINA (4-2-3-1): Terracciano; Kayodé (81′, Maxime Lopez), Martinez, Ranieri, Biraghi; Arthur, Duncan; Ikoné (72′, Gonzales), Bonaventura (78′, Sottil), Kouamé; Nzola. All: Italiano
REFEREE: Rapuano of Rimini
MARKERS: 5′, Lukaku; 66′, Quarta
NOTE: Cautions: 37′, Cristante; 41′, Zalewski; 64′, Ikoné; 75′, Biraghi; 80′, Paredes; 87′, Duncan; 97′, Llorente. Sent off: 65′, Zalewski; 87′, Lukaku; 98′, Milenkovic. Recovered: 7′
The best player on the field for Roma is Dyabala, who came off, however, after 20′ due to yet another injury (7). In his place enters a bungling and confused Azmoun (5). Nearly unaccounted for Paredes: the Argentine is neither seen nor heard for most of the match, occasionally trying a fine pass or waking up to foul (5.5). Lukaku scores but fails to play an effective attacking game; he only returns to make his presence felt in the final, but due to too much vehemence he gets sent off (5.5). For Fiorentina, the best is Martinez Quarta, effective especially when he builds or gets forward (worse in defense when he lets Lukaku get away) (7).
Bad game for Mancini, deployed as right-back: he is the one who loses Martinez Quarta in the 1-1 goal (5.5). Zalewski leaves Roma in ten and before his double caution he cannot hold a candle to Kayode and Ikoné (4.5). In the Viola, Arthur’s game (5.5) leaves something to be desired.
Moviola and highlights of the match
The referee handles a very foul game with difficulty. At 21′ there are several purple protests for an alleged foul by Dybala against Arthur, but Rapuano judges the contact as regular and lets it continue without interruption. In the second half, cards flourish and protests increase. The referee throws out two Giallorossi for intervening too harshly. At the end of the match, the referee also expels Milenkovic.
