Roma 4-0 Crotone: Match report, reaction and key statistics

The Giallorossi bounced back from Sunday’s disappointing loss at Fiorentina in exactly the fashion coach Luciano Spalletti would have wanted – with Edin Dzeko scoring twice after Stephan El Shaarawy and Mohamed Salah had given the hosts a comfortable half-time advantage.

In Francesco Totti’s first start of the season – the captain played the full 90 minutes – there was even a highlight moment for Wojciech Szczesny, who saved Raffaele Palladino’s penalty to preserve the clean sheet.

Roma now have 10 points from their opening five games, putting them fourth in the fledgling Serie A table.

Newly-promoted Crotone came into the game with modest ambitions, especially after a difficult start to the season that has seen them take just a single point. Dzeko fired against the post after just five minutes to send an early warning to the visitors, but it would be another 20 before Roma took the lead.

It came through El Shaarawy, who arrived late in the box to steer home Salah’s cut-back, via the aid of a slight deflection. Soon after it was the Egyptian winger’s turn to get on the scoresheet, as he lashed into the roof of the net after wriggling free inside the box to make it 2-0 at half-time.

In the second half it became the Dzeko show, albeit with pivotal contributions from Totti. The captain was the mastermind of the game-clinching third goal, as he delivered a sublime ball over the top that lured Alex Cordaz out of the Crotone goal. Dzeko beat him to the ball, however, and lobbed him with ease.

The striker’s second was slightly more straightforward, with Salah this time supplying the final pass after Totti had unlocked the defence with another brilliant pass.

The game was won at this point, but there was still one more highlight moment for the home fans – as Szczesny dived to his left to palm away Palladino’s penalty, after Florenzi had been judged to have committed a foul, to protect the final score.

Team selection

The most notable name on Luciano Spalletti's teamsheet was Francesco Totti's - the club captain making his first start of the season in a reshuffled armband.

Diego Perotti was sacrified for the No. 10, while elsewhere Leandro Paredes replaced Daniele De Rossi in midfield. The back four remained unchanged from the defeat to Fiorentina on Sunday - meaning Federico Fazio retained his place at the heart of defence.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

1’ – Salah gets in behind the defence but his cutback is cleared for a corner. From the delivery Florenzi flashes over from the edge of the box.

5’ – POST! Dzeko latches onto Paredes ball, but hits the post!

10’ – Manolas does well to block Capezzi’s attempted shot.

18’ – Palladino goes for goal from 25 yards but his low drive is straight at Szczesny.

25’ – GOAL! El Shaarawy opens the scoring as his first-time shot deflects home! Florenzi with the assist. 1-0!

26’ – Dzeko’s deflected effort is easy for Cordaz.

32’ – Good chance for Palladino, who lingers at the back post and then gets the ball in space. Szczesny is beaten, but the ball goes wide of the far post!

36’ – GOAL! Salah makes it two! He gets the ball inside the box, and lashes into the roof of the net. 2-0!

44’ – Great passing move from Roma. Florenzi finds Totti who takes the Crossfield pass brilliantly, and then finds Dzeko for a header that Cordaz does well to stop.

45’ – El Shaarawy flashes narrowly wide after running onto Dzeko’s pass.

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See more images in our match gallery.

SECOND HALF

47’ – Florenzi makes a bursting run forward and forces a good save from Cordaz!

48’ – GOAL! Dzeko makes it three! Totti plays a sublime ball over the top, and the striker lobs the onrushing Cordaz with ease. 3-0!

58’ – GOAL! Another for Dzeko! Totti again has a major part in the goal, finding Salah in space – and the Egyptian crosses for the striker to get his second! 4-0.

60’ – Penalty! Florenzi is adjudged to have fouled Falcinelli in the box.

60’ – SAVE! Szczesny dives to his left to deny Palladino!

63’ – Totti passes just wide of the post from the edge of the box.

77’ – Iturbe, having come on, smashes over from distance.

78’ – Chance for Crotone! Salzano crashes a shot off the near post – did Szczesny get a touch?!

79’ – Iturbe dribbles into the box and forces another save from Cordaz!

85’ – So close! Substitute Juan Jesus meets Totti’s corner, but he heads narrowly wide!

88’ – Szczesny does well once again, this time palming over Capezzi’s powerful shot.

Key match statistics

See more match statistics in our match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

“It was important to reproduce the performance we showed in Florence. We channelled our anger right from the start tonight and there was only going to be one outcome.”

- Alessandro Florenzi

"It was a great win tonight because it came courtesy of a top performance. It's just what we needed."

- Luciano Spalletti

What's next?

Roma's next Serie A commitment takes then to Turin, where they will face Torino on Sunday 25 September. The game kicks off at 12:30 CEST.

Then it is back to Europa League action, with the Giallorossi hosting Romanian champions Astra Giurgiu at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday 29 September.

ROMA 4-0 CROTONE

Goalscorers: El Shaarawy (26'), Salah (37'), Dzeko (48', 57')

Roma: Szczesny; Florenzi (Emerson), Manolas (Jesus), Fazio, Peres; Strootman, Paredes; Salah (Iturbe), Totti, El Shaarawy; Dzeko.

Crotone: Cordaz; Claiton, Sampirisi (Martella), Ferrari, Ceccherini; Rohden (Nalini), Capezzi, Crisetig, Salzano, Palladino; Falcinelli.