Sassuolo 1-3 Roma: Match report, reaction and key statistics

Having gone 1-0 down early on to Paolo Cannavaro’s close-range header, Luciano Spalletti’s side dominated the ball and created plenty of chances – but it took until after half-time for them to get level, as Dzeko found the bottom corner from Mohamed Salah’s fine pass.

The striker – Serie A’s top goalscorer at this early stage of the season – then completed the comeback with 15 minutes remaining, as he won and then converted a penalty that gave his side the lead.

The game was not over at that point but the destination of the points was put beyond any doubt soon after, as Radja Nainggolan followed up Stephan El Shaarawy’s shot to bury the rebound and secure victory.

An otherwise outstanding night for Roma – Antonio Rudiger made a late return as a substitute after a long period out injured - was then marred somewhat late on, as Alessandro Florenzi suffered what appeared to be a similarly serious injury.

Roma remain second in the Serie A standings, two points behind Juventus.

Given the team's difficulty with away games so far this season, especially in the league, a victory like this against a side that qualified for Europe last season was the ideal way to build on the previous away win at Napoli.

Dzeko's ninth and tenth goals of the season also meant he equalled Gabriel Batistuta's record for goals scored at this stage of the campaign, heady company to be in for the Bosnian striker.

Roma were certainly good value for their victory on the night, although they had to show patience and then late quality in front of goal to secure it. They went behind early, as Paolo Cannavaro ventured forward to head home Matteo Politano's cross after just 12 minutes, and then took time to wear down the Neroverdi.

They hit the bar twice in the first half - courtesy of Nainggolan and then Dzeko - but in the second they finally got the equaliser. It came through Dzeko, as he ran on to Salah's brilliant through ball before slipping his shot beyond Andrea Consigli.

Soon after he was gifted the chance to put his side ahead, after being downed by Pol Lirola inside the box. He assumed the responsibility for the spot-kick himself, sending it high to Consigli's right as it beat his outstretched hand.

Moments later the comeback was finished off, and the three points claimed. This time El Shaarawy was the architect, as he burst into the box before forcing Consigli to parry into the path of Nainggolan, who made no mistake from six yards.

The final 10 minutes of the game then became dominated by injuries: one player coming back from one, and another suffering a potentially serious one. Antonio Rudiger was given a warm reception as he returned to the pitch for the first time since his knee injury, but moments later the mood changed as Florenzi went down with what appeared a similar issue.

The defender will be assessed over the next 24 hours. Roma fans will all be hoping for the best.

Team selection

Having announced in his pre-match press conference that Kevin Strootman would return to the starting lineup following his recent injury issues, there was no marked surprises to Luciano Spalletti's team selection.

Alessandro Florenzi returned at right-back for the side, while Emerson Palmieri crossed over to the left flank - the defence set up just as it finished Sunday's 4-1 win over Palermo.

Edin Dzeko once again led the line ahead of Mohamed Salah and Stephan El Shaarawy.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

4’ – Defrel forces a good save from Szczesny, Politano is just put off as he goes for the rebound.

5’ – Pellegrini fires wide from the edge of the box

11’ – After a trio of corners, El Shaarawy volleys from the edge of the box but his shot is deflected wide.

12’ – Goal. Sassuolo lead. Politano turns onto his left and plays in the cross, one Cannavaro heads inside the near post. 1-0.

28’ – SO CLOSE! Nainggolan steals the ball and crashes his shot from 25 yards against the crossbar!

38’ – Adjapong tries to find the top corner but his curling effort is not on target.

40’ – Salah flashes a low ball across goal but somehow it isn’t touched in!

42’ – Adjapong gets in behind but shoots wide. A bit of a let-off.

43’ – BAR! Emerson does brilliantly to cross the ball, Dzeko meets it but his shot clatters off the bar!

43’ – De Rossi’s header from the corner is cleared away on the line.

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See more images in our match gallery.

SECOND HALF

58’ – GOAL! Roma equalize! Salah wriggles free in the middle of the pitch and plays in Dzeko … who slides home clinically! 1-1!

62’ – HOW DID THAT NOT GO IN! A mistake releases Salah on goal, the forward prods his shot past the goalkeeper but Defrel somehow rushes back to make the clearance.

67’ – El Shaarawy narrowly misses the target with a sharp first-time effort from Emerson’s cross

74’ – PENALTY! Dzeko shields the ball inside the box and is brought down clumsily by Lirola!

75’ – GOAL! DZEKO! The league’s top goalscorer takes the penalty himself – and makes absolutely no mistake with a blast into the top corner! 2-1 Roma!

78’ – GOAL! ANOTHER! El Shaarawy makes a bursting run into the box – his shot is saved, but Nainggolan is there to finish off the rebound! 3-1!

79' - Rudiger returns! The defender comes on to a rousing reception!

80’ – Radja goes for another spectacular strike but he flashes over.

84’ – Big blow for Roma as Florenzi goes down with what appears to be a serious injury.

Key match statistics

See more match statistics in our match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

To follow...

“Sassuolo played the way we expected them to but we conceded too early. We managed to pick ourselves up and get going again with some difficulty, but overall I must say we played well. Edin [Dzeko] scored a fine goal and that eased the tension – once we'd equalised we looked like we'd go on and score again.”

- Luciano Spalletti

"We won a really tough match today and we're all delighted. We didn't play well in the first half. They were more aggressive than us and that made things difficult. We played with more character after the break and there was only one team in it.”

- Edin Dzeko

What's next?

The games continue to come thick and fast for Roma. Sunday sees another away trip in the league for Spalletti's men, as they face Empoli in a 15:00 CEST kick-off.

Two more games follow next week - first up is a Europa League meeting with Austria Wien in the Austrian capital, before the side return to the Olimpico to host Bologna on the Sunday.

SASSUOLO 1-3 ROMA

Goalscorers: Cannavaro (12'); Dzeko (57', 76' p.), Nainggolan (78')

Sassuolo: Consigli; Gazzola, Cannavaro, Acerbi, Peluso; Mazzitelli, Pellegrini; Politano, Defrel, Adjapong; Matri.

Roma: Szczesny; Florenzi (Totti), Manolas, Fazio, Emerson; Strootman (Paredes), De Rossi; El Shaarawy (Rudiger), Nainggolan, Salah, Dzeko.