Roma Unleash 28 Shots to Sweep Past Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico
AS Roma secured a dominant 3-0 home victory over Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on Matchday 11, extending the visitors’ losing run in Serie A. Tactical control in midfield and sustained lateral pressure allowed Gian Piero Gasperini’s team to bounce back decisively from their midweek continental setback. The result leaves Sassuolo head coach Alberto Aquilani navigating a fifth consecutive league defeat.
Defensive line breaches defined the opening half hour as Roma established total command over the middle third. Sassuolo adjusted to a 3-5-2 system to counter Roma’s wing-backs, but the initial dynamic saw the host side overwhelm the flank channels and generate early set-piece pressure. Duje Caleta-Car was forced into an early goal-line clearance on a looping Leonardo Balerdi header, setting the tone for a match played almost entirely in Sassuolo’s defensive end.
AS Roma
clubHermoso and Mora Strike as Roma Overwhelm Sassuolo’s Back Three
The tactical breakthrough arrived in the 27th minute when central defender Mario Hermoso pushed high out of the back line into the opposition box. After combining with Donyell Malen via a swift exchange of passes, Hermoso collected the loose ball and drove a finish into the roof of the net from 14 yards. Roma doubled their margin three minutes later when Malen drove into the right side of the area, sending an angled effort off Jay Idzes and defender Sebastian Walukiewicz for an own goal that completely wrong-footed goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
Roma maintained their physical tempo after the interval despite missing a clear opening when Matías Soulé bypassed Muric but failed to link cleanly with Malen. The third goal arrived in the 58th minute through a precise central combination. Rodrigo Mora initiated a give-and-go sequence with Malen before driving a right-footed shot through Caleta-Car’s legs and into the far bottom corner to seal the win.
Mario Hermoso
player| Match Statistic | AS Roma | Sassuolo |
|---|---|---|
| Possession % | 65% | 35% |
| Total Shots | 28 | 6 |
| Shots on Target | 9 | 1 |
| Shots Off Target | 10 | 4 |
| Blocked Shots | 9 | 1 |
| Corners | 12 | 1 |
| Fouls | 8 | 13 |
- 27′, Goal: Mario Hermoso (AS Roma)
- 30′, Goal: Sebastian Walukiewicz own goal (AS Roma)
- 46′, Substitution: Ignace Van Der Brempt replaced Simone Cinquegrano (Sassuolo)
- 46′, Substitution: Kieron Bowie replaced Nemanja Matic (Sassuolo)
- 58′, Goal: Rodrigo Mora, assist by Donyell Malen (AS Roma)
- 66′, Substitution: Marten de Roon replaced Manu Koné (AS Roma)
- 66′, Substitution: Niccolò Pisilli replaced Rodrigo Mora (AS Roma)
- 69′, Substitution: Luca Lipani replaced Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo)
- 69′, Substitution: Vasilije Adžić replaced Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo)
- 77′, Substitution: Konstantinos Koulierakis replaced Mario Hermoso (AS Roma)
- 77′, Substitution: Santiago Castro replaced Donyell Malen (AS Roma)
- 85′, Substitution: Daniele Ghilardi replaced Leonardo Balerdi (AS Roma)
- 90′, Substitution: Fali Candé replaced Duje Caleta-Car (Sassuolo)