Gallery: Roma Women disappointed again in Verona

A first-half free-kick proved to be the difference between the two sides, in a match where Betty Bavagnoli's side were largely the dominant force but could not find the crucial goals their hard work deserved.

Annamaria Serturini hit the bar in the first half while another strike was ruled out for offside, while in the second half substitute Luisa Pugnali was among a number of players to be thwarted by the Verona goalkeeper.

"We started well, we had a lot of chances but we didn't make the most of them," said stand-in centre-back Claudia Ciccotti.

"We weren't lucky or clinical enough at the crucial moments."

Forward Martina Piemonte was sent off in the final moments, meaning she will miss next weekend's first home game of the season - against Juventus.

“We tried everything. We needed to be a bit more focused, in the first 10 minutes we could have scored three," Bavagnoli said afterwards.

"We didn’t respond brilliantly to their goal, but in the second half we did better – spending most of the time in their half. We need to become a bit more incisive, a bit more focused, a bit more determined. We need to improve.”

She added: "After this we need to go again with great determination. We wanted to go into the Juventus game with a different result, but we will go forward into that one with great courage and desire to produce our best – with all respect for our opponents.

"Right now, we need the fans beyond us, they can be the 12th player on the pitch for us. Hopefully they will be there at Tre Fontane to watch the game.”

See more photos from the match in the gallery below.

1 / 36

2 / 36

3 / 36

4 / 36

5 / 36

6 / 36

7 / 36

8 / 36

9 / 36

10 / 36

11 / 36

12 / 36

13 / 36

14 / 36

15 / 36

16 / 36

17 / 36

18 / 36

19 / 36

20 / 36

21 / 36

22 / 36

23 / 36

24 / 36

25 / 36

26 / 36

27 / 36

28 / 36

29 / 36

30 / 36

31 / 36

32 / 36

33 / 36

34 / 36

35 / 36

36 / 36