Steven Nzonzi scored his first ever goal for the Giallorossi to break the deadlock at the Stadio Castellani, before Edin Dzeko slotted home five minutes from time to wrap up the three points.

Prior to that, Empoli forward Francesco Caputo missed from the penalty spot, as the home side were frustrated in their attempts to get back into the game.

The result lifts Roma back up into the upper reaches of the Serie A table, after a faltering start to the campaign.

The Giallorossi are back in action after the international break, as they take on SPAL.

TEAM NEWS

Luca Pellegrini made his first ever start for Roma, as Davide Santon joined him as the other full-back.

Daniele De Rossi was passed fit to start, while Edin Dzeko led the attack ahead of Stephan El Shaarawy and Cengiz Under.

First half

4' - Cengiz forces a good early save from Terracciano after a speculative effort from distance that dipped wickedly.

24' - A good chance for Roma, thanks to Lorenzo Pellegrini's persistence. The midfielder makes a driving run and then squares for Dzeko, who cannot connect with his shot! Cengiz's follow-up deflects wide...

33' - Caputo gets in behind the defence and, under pressure from Fazio, gets a shot away - but Olsen saves comfortably.

36' - GOAL! Get in! Steven Nzonzi rises highest to flick on Lorenzo Pellegrini's free-kick from deep... and the ball nestles perfectly inside the far post for the breakthrough! 0-1!

Second half

48' - A quick counter-attack from Roma sees some good interplay between El Shaarawy and Cengiz - but the latter man curls his first-time shot fractionally wide of goal!

50' - Bennacer hits the outside of the woodwork from a free-kick.

55' - A penalty is awarded to Empoli after a handball in the box... the referee is advised to look at VAR - and sticks with his original decision. Penalty.

58' - PENALTY MISSED! Caputo fires high and wide from the spot!

70' - The ball falls kindly for Caputo inside the box - but he fires over again! Another break...

81' - Substitute La Gumina gets in behind goal, but he drags his shot wide as Robin Olsen watches on.

85' - GOAL! DZEKO ENDS IT! Edin wins the initial flick-on for El Shaarawy, who slips the ball back to him inside the box - and the striker evades the defenders brilliantly before shooting beyond Terracciano! YES! 0-2!

KEY MATCH STATISTICS

SOCIAL REACTION

ROMA REACTION

“The main thing is we are winning now. It was not an easy period but we worked our way through it, we have now won four games in a row heading into the international break and we have fixed things a bit.”

- Edin Dzeko

“I’m delighted and really pleased [to start my first game] – it’s something I dreamed about as a kid. I worked hard to get to this point and to be able to help the team out.”

- Luca Pellegrini

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Giallorossi now have almost two weeks off for the international break - returning on October 20 against SPAL at home.

They are then at the Olimpico again a few days later, as CSKA Moscow come to the Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League.