Roma 4-1 Chievo: Match report, reaction and key statistics

The Giallorossi, who were reduced to 10 men early in the second half, took the lead through Patrik Schick and never looked back - as Edin Dzeko grabbed a brace to put the result beyond all doubt.

The striker had the hosts two goals ahead at half-time but, when Juan Jesus was dismissed early in the second half and a penalty awarded to Chievo, it looked like the game was about to change. Alisson Becker saved the spot-kick, however: spurring Roma to a dominant finish as Stephan El Shaarawy and Dzeko added clinching goals.

Inglese did grab a late consolation for the hosts, but it was far too late to change the outcome on the night.

Roma remain third in the Serie A standings - and can now turn their attention to Wednesday night, where they will face Liverpool int he second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Team selection

Di Francesco opted to start both Patrik Schick and Edin Dzeko, as he looked to score early against Chievo and put the game to bed as quickly as possible.

Radja Nainggolan and Daniele De Rossi were both also among the starters, with Kostas Manolas and Alessandro Florenzi rested.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

5' - Early chance for Chievo, as Inglese finds Castro in space just inside the box. From a wider angle the midfielder lashes a shot at goal, but his attempt clips the top of the crossbar on its way out.

9' - GOAL! ROMA LEAD! SCHICK! It's brilliant work from Radja Nainggolan on his 200th Roma appearance, as he robs the defender, gallops down the left - and puts in a perfect low cross that Schick makes no mistake in turning home first time! Two in two in the league for Patrik! 1-0!

11' - POST! Almost a second! Fazio meets a free-kick inside the box, but his looping effort bounces off the bottom of the woodwork and Sorrentino is able to clear!

14' - El Shaarawy has the ball in the net again for the hosts - but the flag is up for offside. After a brief break as the referee consults with VAR, the decision on the field is left as it is.

28' - POST AGAIN! So close! A beautiful attacking move from Roma is launched by Dzeko, who feeds Pellegrini who continues a bursting run forward. The midfielder passes to El Shaarawy, who cuts inside a curls a right-footed shot off the woodwork!

30' - Narrowly wide from Dzeko after he meets the inswinging delivery inside the box!

40' - GOAL! ADVANTAGE DOUBLED! EDIN! Another goal, another clinical striker's finish! This time the cross from the left comes from Kolarov, and it is Dzeko who turns his body expertly to steer home first time with his left foot! 2-0!

See more images in our dedicated match gallery.

SECOND HALF

55' - Penalty for Chievo. Inglese goes down inside the box as he looks to prod home. Juan Jesus is shown a red card.

59' - SAVE FROM ALISSON! Another big stop from the No. 1! The Brazil international guesses correctly, dives to his right, and palms away Inglese's driven attempt! A huge moment in the game!

65' - GOAL! EL SHAARAWY! Brilliant from him! He runs at the Chievo box from the left with determination, cuts inside his defender, and then finds the far corner with aplomb! 3-0!

67' - A SECOND FOR DZEKO! Now the confidence is flowing! Dzeko sees his gap from 25 yards, and finds the inside of Sorrentino's far post with a sweet left-footed strike!

87' - Goal for Chievo. Inglese heads home from a corner for the visitors.

Key match statistics

See more game statistics in our dedicated match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

“The lads got their approach spot on and it wasn't easy to go into this game with the right mindset. We played some excellent football. We moved the ball around really well, fashioned plenty of chances and probably deserved to score a few more."Then there was the penalty incident – and I'm not sure it was a penalty myself – which could have opened the game up again, but fortunately Alisson pulled off a superb save. That's great for his confidence after the goals he let in at Liverpool.”

- Eusebio Di Francesco

“Credit goes to Alisson for saving the penalty – if they had scored then the game could have ended up going very differently. It was a huge save, very important for the team.“We will prepare for [Liverpool] well, starting with the coach. Today we have won and we hope to put in another great performance on Wednesday – we need to.”

- Edin Dzeko

What's next?

The Giallorossi now look to overturn a three-goal first leg deficit as they host Liverpool in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final. The game takes place at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday evening.

The next Serie A game is away to Cagliari on Sunday night.

ROMA 4-1 CHIEVO VERONA

Goals: Schick (9'), Dzeko (40', 67'), El Shaarawy (65'); Inglese (85')

Red cards: J. Jesus (55')

Roma: Alisson; Peres, Fazio, Juan Jesus, Kolarov; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Pellegrini; El Shaarawy, Dzeko, Cengiz.

Chievo: Sorrentino; Cacciatore, Tomovic, Bani, Depaoli, Radovanovic, Castro, Rigoni, Hetemaj, Pucciarelli, Inglese.