Serie A: Roma spank Monza to extend unbeaten record

AS Roma have extended their impressive unbeaten run in Serie A with a comfortable 4-0 victory against struggling Monza at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night.

The Giallorossi made light work of their relegation-threatened visitors with goals from Alexis Saelemaekers, Eldor Shomurodov, and Angelino and Crisante.

The Giallorossi got the ground running with the first chance coming to Niccolo Pisilli, who recently put pen to paper on a new contract extension. Pisilli had a chance to put his side 1-0 up within the opening minutes after receiving the ball from Matias Soule on the cut-back, but it took a slight bobble, and the youngster put it wide from 10 yards out. 

Saelemaekers eventually opened the goals chart in just 10 minutes. Having had possession on the right wing, he cut in onto his left foot and then bent a shot in at the far post from the corner of the area for the opener. 

Roma doubled their lead as Matias Soule, just after the half-hour mark, stood up his man before hitting the byline and sending a clipped cross in off the right for Shomurodov to nod home from the center of the area.

Roma maintained possession for the vast majority of the opening 45, but Mile Svilar was called into action towards the end with an excellent fingertip save to deny Dany Mota from close range. 

Tommaso Baldanzi, with some great footwork, squeezed through several Monza defenders in the area on the hour mark, but he wasn’t able to get much power behind his shot, which Turati was able to deal with. 

The Giallorossi eventually put the result beyond doubt through Angelino in the 73rd minute. Bryan Cristante sent the ball out to the left, and the Spaniard had enough time to pick his spot and dispatch a shot past Turati into the far corner of the net. 

Paulo Dybala, who later came in, sent in a corner towards the front post with two minutes of normal time remaining as Cristante, who was running towards it, managed to steer a header the other direction and in at the far post for a late Roma fourth.

Roma have extended their unbeaten run in Serie A since mid-December to ten games as they move within one point of both Milan and Bologna on the league table.