The Talking Point: 10 minutes that secured Sampdoria victory

In torrential rain at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, Roma huffed and puffed at Sampdoria’s door before it finally breached - with a 10-minute spell leading up to Edin Dzeko’s breakthrough a telling one in securing all three points in favour of the Giallorossi.

Here's how the most crucial passage of the game panned out...

62’ - SMALLING HITS THE BAR

At a sodden Olimpico, Roma dominated the ball from nearly start to finish but their 70 per cent possession going into the break counted for little as the drenched pitch took the sting out of any attempts to get the ball moving along the deck.

It prompted a change in approach from the hosts, who went more direct in the second period and their efforts to go longer nearly paid off as Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free-kick from Roma’s right hand-side found Chris Smalling, but the England centre-half’s superb back post header beat Emil Audero, but not the crossbar.

67’ - AUDERO DENIES DZEKO

That near-miss sparked Roma into life and a barrage of set pieces ensued as the home side looked to make the most of opportunities to fill the visitors’ penalty box.

This time a Pellegrini corner eventually found its way to Edin Dzeko just yards from goal - but he couldn’t direct an instinctive header either side of Audero, who tipped clear with one hand.

68’ - FONSECA CALLS FOR CRISTANTE

Despite an impressive performance in difficult conditions from Gonzalo Villar, Fonseca seeked a new angle of approach and called upon Bryan Cristante for a fresh pair of legs in a midfield that was being made particularly leggy under foot by the hammering rain.

It was the first change of the game, and Cristante would go on to play an important role in Dzeko’s decisive goal.

70’ - KARSDORP THREATENS

In total, Roma put 29 crosses into the Sampdoria box - further highlighting how they looked to be more direct in approach as the game wore on and the puddles got deeper.

Bruno Peres on the left and Rick Karsdorp on the right sensed blood, pushing higher and higher up the pitch and they almost combined on 70 minutes to put the Giallorossi in front as Peres put his marker on his backside before picking out Karsdorp at the back post who went close but could only fire into the side netting.

71’ - LOPEZ KEEPS ROMA IN IT

In hindsight that was a prominent warning of things to come for Sampdoria, but it was La Samp that nearly took the lead against the run of play just moments later.

A near carbon copy of Dzeko’s chance at the other end four minutes earlier, Pau Lopez kept his team level with a fine stop to deny Morten Thorsby’s headed effort from just yards out.

72’ - DZEKO HITS THE WINNER

Roma responded immediately by turning the screw tighter and their 10-minute spell of pressure finally told as Dzeko expertly turned home Karsdorp’s cross from the right.

Fonseca's team swiftly move the ball from front to back, allowing Cristante to shift a first time pass that found Karsdorp before Tommaso Augello could get across quickly enough to prevent the Dutchman from delivering an inch-perfect cross into the path of Dzeko.

The chance wasn’t as easy as the Roma skipper made it look - but Dzeko certainly showed his expertise as he steered the ball past Audero to ultimatelly seal a hard-fought, and well-deserved, three points that were largely secured thanks to a 10-minute spell of sustained pressure brought about by an astute switch in style.