Palermo 0-3 Roma: Match report, reaction and key statistics

Looking to bounce back after a tough recent run of results, Stephan El Shaarawy gave Luciano Spalletti's side a much-needed early lead against the Serie A strugglers - before Dzeko came off the bench to effectively clinch the three points midway through the second half.

Bruno Peres then slotted home at the death to wrap up the three points in Sicily.

Spalletti made a number of changes to his side for the game at the Stadio Renzo Barbera, and many of them paid off handsomely for him. El Shaarawy got the game's opening goal, for starters, from a perfectly-measured ball from Grenier - who was making his first start for the club.

The Frenchman continued to have an impressive game, and could have notched up further assists if teammates had done slightly better with his finishes. In the end it wasn't until he was withdrawn that Roma doubled their lead, as Dzeko replaced him and then ran onto Radja Nainggolan's pass to notch his 30th goal of the campaign.

That ended any lingering nerves the visitors might have been feeling, as they eased through the final 15 minutes - with Bruno Peres driving home on the counter-attack in injury time to add an extra flourish to the scoreline.

Team selection

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti made six changes from the side that lost to Olympique Lyon in midweek.

Spalletti noted in his pre-match press conference that he could make "four or five" changes to his team for Sunday's meeting in Sicily, and despite the late absence of Diego Perotti he did even more than that - handing a first start for the club for Clement Grenier, and a first league start for full-back Mario Rui.

Wojciech Szczesny, Antonio Rudiger, Leandro Paredes and Stephan El Shaarawy also all came into the side.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

5' - Disallowed goal. Nestorovski thinks he has slipped a shot under Szczesny - but the referee blows his whistle!

22- GOAL! ROMA LEAD! First start, first assist for Grenier! His clipped ball into the box is perfect for El Shaarawy - who slots home past Fulignati! 0-1!

29' - Chance for El Shaarawy! He runs at the defence and tries to find the bottom corner from 20 yards ... just wide!

38' - Great chance for Roma! Paredes finds Rudiger with an inswinging free-kick, but the defender cannot turn home!

39' - CLOSE AGAIN! This time Paredes misses the far corner by inches as he hits a low drive from 20 yards!

42' - Just wide! Nearly a second assist for Grenier as he plays in Radja - but he drags his effort past the far post!

See more images in our dedicated match gallery.

SECOND HALF

49' - Good chance! Nearly a carbon copy of the opener ... but this time Fulignati smothers El Shaarawy's shot!

50' - Big save from Szczesny to deny substitute Diamanti!

72' - Chance for Dzeko - but his volley flies over after Fulignati fails to deal with Peres' cross!

75' - GOAL! IT'S TWO! An important strike at an important time! Radja finds Dzeko with the clipped ball over the top, and the striker finishes calmly! 0-2!

90' - GOAL! DONE AND DUSTED! Substitute Strootman makes the surging run on the counter-attack - he shifts the ball out to the right and Peres runs onto it to slide home! 0-3!

Key match statistics

See more game statistics in our dedicated match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

“We’ve won tonight and that will restore some of the confidence we’d lost recently. Now we need to look to the future and focus on pulling off a big result on Thursday. It’s a huge match in our season.”

- Edin Dzeko

We’re happy with what we’re doing, as Napoli probably are too. They’re a very good side and every time they seem like they’re in difficulty they dig deep and prove why they’re a successful team."We need to focus on taking one step at a time without getting fixated on our overall objective. If you do well now, you set yourself up to do well later too.”

- Luciano Spalletti

What's next?

Attention now turns to Europe for the Giallorossi, as they host Olympique Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma are looking to overturn a 4-2 first leg deficit, meaning they need to score at least twice on the night.

Sunday then sees them back at the Olimpico for Serie A action against Sassuolo, before a brief break follows for international action.

PALERMO 0-3 ROMA

Goalscorers: El Shaarawy (22'), Dzeko (75'), Peres (90')

Palermo: Fulignati; Morganella, Cionek, Andelkovic, Aleesami; Gazzi, Chochev, Embalo, Henrique; Sallai, Nestorovski

Roma: Szczesny; Jesus, Fazio, Rudiger; Mario Rui, Paredes, Grenier (Dzeko), Peres; Nainggolan, Salah (De Rossi), El Shaarawy (Strootman).