Roma 3-1 Verona: First half show makes difference

With the teams around them also winning over the weekend, the Giallorossi kept pace with their rivals thanks to first half goals from Gianluca Mancini, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Borja Mayoral.

Substitute Ebrima Colley headed home for Verona midway through the second half to nudge the door ajar slightly in pursuit of a comeback - but there were no further goals to follow, as Paulo Fonseca's side held on to secure victory.

In truth the Giallorossi paved their way to victory with a two-minute flurry early in the first half, as Mancini and Mkhitaryan scored in quick succession to make it 2-0 after just 22 minutes.

The defender steered a looping header back across goal and in to give his side the advantage, before Mkhitaryan - returning to the starting XI after injury - showed off all his experience to wrong-foot the out-of-position Marco Silvestri and find the bottom corner with a clever effort.

When Borja Mayoral then produced a striker's finish to tuck home after Lorenzo Pellegrini had seen his rasping shot saved, Roma found themselves 3-0 up with just 30 minutes played.

Although the game was won in relative comfort it was not all good news for the team; with Chris Smalling going off injured early on, and Lorenzo Pellegrini picking up a yellow card that means he will miss the side's next match.

Fonseca's team face Juventus next weekend, in another important game at the top end of the Serie A table.

ROMA 3-1 HELLAS VERONA

GOALSCORERS: Mancini (20'), Mkhitaryan (22'), Mayoral (29'); Colley (61')

ROMA (3-4-2-1): Pau Lopez; Mancini, Smalling (Kumbulla), Ibanez; Karsdorp (Peres), Villar (Cristante), Veretout (Diawara), Spinazzola; Mkhitaryan, Pellegrini, Mayoral (Perez)

Unused subs: Mirante, Fuzato, Santon, Pastore, Calafiori

HELLAS VERONA (3-4-2-1): Silvestri; Dawidowicz, Gunter, Ceccherini (Udogie); Faraoni (Dimarco), Ilic (Bessa), Tameze, Lazovic; Zaccagni (Colley), Barak; Kalinic (Lasagna)

Unused subs: Berardi, Pandur, Lovato, Cetin, Terracciano, Amione