AS Roma stretched their remarkable unbeaten home run in Serie A to 29 games after beating Hellas Verona 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico to rise to second in the table.
The Giallorossi got off to the perfect start after just seven minutes when Artem Dovbyk met Zeki Celik’s pinged cross to brilliantly head home into the far corner. However, that would be Roma’s only shot on target in the first half as Verona posed a real threat, particularly through Gift Orban.
His first chance needed to be tipped wide by Mile Svilar, before striking a free-kick inches wide, with Orban the width of the crossbar away from equalising before half-time as Roma held firm.
Verona continued their momentum into the second half as Suat Serdar and Giovane – the latter taking the second-most shots in Serie A before this weekend’s action - both struck just over in promising positions.
The chances did not stop there for the Mastini as Antoine Bernede unleashed a fierce strike from the edge of the box, which Svilar stopped well.
However, Roma were always likely to carve out a chance of their own before the final whistle, as the ball broke to Matias Soule, who coolly slotted home from inside the box to ease the pressure from the visitors.
Verona did manage to put the ball in the net in stoppage time as Orban thought he scored the goal he was threatening in the first half, but it was ruled out for a handball.
It means Gian Piero Gasperini has now won five of his six matches in charge of the Giallorossi, while Verona are still searching for their first league win despite a spirited performance.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Artem Dovbyk (AS Roma)