AS Roma grind out victory at Torino

Roma recorded a 2-0 win at Torino on Sunday to continue their push for at least a Champions League spot 

Donyell Malen had a good debut for the Gialorossi, scoring the first goal of the world rankings encounter. The Netherlands striker almost doubled their lead, but his second goal was ruled out for being offside before being substituted.

Paulo Dybala, who produced a man-of-the-match performance, doubled their lead, giving them breathing space against a host that had started the second half with spells of possession as Giant Piero Gasperini’s men struggled to maintain possession for a minute.

The victory has taken the Rome club to fourth place in the Serie A standings.

It could be said to be a revenge mission for Roma, having lost 3-2 five days ago in the Coppa Italia, as Torino progressed to the quarter-final. 

Pellegrini, who just returned to action after a month, scuffed a finish wide on the Gianluca Mancini pull-back. 

Malen then got his first chance for Roma with an angled drive parried by Alberto Paleari’s outstretched boot at the near post.

After Dybala combined with Malen to drill just wide, Mario Hermoso limped off with a hip issue and got replaced by Daniele Ghilardi.

Roma thought they had the lead moments later when Malen ran onto the Dybala pass and cut inside Saul Coco, toe-poking the right-foot finish into the far bottom corner from 11 yards. However, VAR chalked off the goal as the debutant was marginally offside.

The former Aston Villa striker eventually scored when he gathered another Dybala assist, took a touch and swept in right-footed from seven yards.

Torino also suffered an injury blow when they lost Zakaria Aboukhlal to a left thigh injury, while Cyril Ngonge threatened with a couple of efforts from distance.

Substitute Casadei, who came in the second half, helped them dictate the play as the hosts immediately had a chance when Valentin Lazaro prodded into Mile Svilar’s arms from a promising position. 

Ndicka then sprinted back for a decisive sliding tackle as Ngonge was going clear.

Roma then doubled their lead as Toro were pushing for an equaliser after a good second-half performance. 

Dybala’s daisy-cutter from the edge of the area forced a one-handed Paleari save, but Gianluca Mancini laid off the rebound for Rensch, who pulled back for the Dybala dinked finish off the outside of the boot from six yards to score his second Serie A goal of the season.

Malen had a chance to make it three moments later, but hit the side-netting after a Wesley run.

Robinio Vaz, who came on for his debut, had a chance to score, but the Torino shot stopper saved his shot with his legs.

Che Adams threatened to get one back, but his angled drive grazed a coat of paint off the far post from the Nikola Vlasic through ball, and Saul Coco also fired wide.