Roma 0-2 Fiorentina: Match report, reaction and key statistics

Marco Benassi fired home from Fiorentina's first opening of the game to give the visitors the lead - an advantage they would defend diligently for the remainder of the game.

Another goal from Giovanni Simeone, just minutes before the break, gave Stefano Pioli's side control - and, despite carving out numerous opportunities, the Giallorossi were unable to get back into the game.

Team selection

Di Francesco made five changes from the side that lost in Barcelona, with Radja Nainggolan returning to the starting line-up as captain after missing the Camp Nou game through injury.

Elsewhere, Maxime Gonalons, Juan Jesus, Gregoire Defrel and Stephan El Shaarawy all came into the side.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

6' - Goal. Fiorentina take an early lead. Benassi slots home from inside the box. 0-1.

10' - Strootman stings the palms of Sportiello with a swerving drive from the edge of the box.

10' - Manolas, under pressure, heads narrowly wide at the far post. Better from Roma.

13' - NO! POST! Sportiello fails to collect a looping ball; Dzeko reacts instinctively but his first-time shot from a tight angle hits the woodwork and goes wide!

15' - El Shaarawy chests the ball down and half-volleys at goal, but it's comfortable for Sportiello.

27' - CHANCE! Dzeko does brilliantly to outmuscle Vitor Hugo and get into the box, but Sportiello does well to charge down the striker's effort!

39' - Goal. Fiorentina double their advantage. Simeone breaks clear on the counter and fires home from inside the box. 0-2.

44' - Dzeko wins a free-kick in a dangerous position. The ball is rolled short to Radja but his typically powerful strike is charged down by the wall.

See more images in our dedicated match gallery.

SECOND HALF

46' - Immediate chance! Dzeko meets the low cross in from the left, but Sportiello makes a brilliant save low to his right to keep it out!

53' - Glorious opening again forthe Giallorossi; El Shaarawy clips the ball into the box for Dzeko, but the striker prods a first-time shot over the bar.

55' - Great chance! Roma slice Fiorentina apart with an incisive move forward: Schick feeds Radja inside the box but Sportiello blocks the shot!

70' - Another good chance... Dzeko flicks a header fractionally wide of the far post after a perfect ball in from El Shaarawy.

74' - BAR! Florenzi's cross is met by Schick - his glancing header beats Sportiello but crashes away off the underside of the crossbar!

90' - El Shaarawy fires wide under pressure.

Key match statistics

See more game statistics in our dedicated match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

“It did not go well: when you create so much, and then concede two goals from three shots, then clearly the fault is ours. We defended badly. We’re in a tough spell, but today none of the key moments went our way.”

- Eusebio Di Francesco

What's next?

Roma have two more games at the Stadio Olimpico to come, starting with the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona on Tuesday night.

On Sunday they are then back in action in the derby - the Giallorossi the nominal 'visitors' as they play Lazio in a hugely important game both at the top of Serie A and for city pride.

ROMA 0-2 FIORENTINA

Goalscorers: Benassi (7'), Simeone (39')

Roma: Alisson; Peres, Manolas (Kolarov), Fazio, J. Jesus; Nainggolan, Gonalons, Strootman (Florenzi); Defrel (Schick), Dzeko, El Shaarawy.

Fiorentina: Sportiello; Laurini, Pezzella, Hugo, Biraghi, Veretout, Dabo, Benassi, Eysseric, Saponara, Simeone.