While it may have been pouring down in Rome, it certainly wasn’t raining goals at the Stadio Olimpico, as the two sides played out a goalless first half. Roma entered the break having been the better side, with the home side spurning several golden chances. Georginio Wijnaldum saw a delicate chip clip the far-left post, whereas a quick-fire double save from Sampdoria goalkeeper Nicola Ravaglia denied Roma pair Nicola Zalewski and Lorenzo Pellegrini from netting the opener before HT.
Perhaps fortunate to have been on level terms at the break, Sampordia’s hopes of snatching a result from the Italian capital dwindled early in the second period when Jeison Murillo was shown red for charging into the back of Tammy Abraham almost 50 yards out from goal. After picking up a soft booking earlier in the match, the defender - who was only in the starting XI due to suspensions elsewhere - could have few complaints about referee Massimiliano Irrati’s decision to brandish a second yellow card.
Unsurprisingly, Roma’s extra man proved pivotal in deciding where the points would end up, with the home side flexing their numerical advantage to edge the contest. Having come close earlier in the evening, Wijnaldum would eventually find the net, heading home at the back post following a clever cutback from Nemanja Matić. The ex-Premier League midfield duo combined expertly to break the deadlock, while also exploiting the gaps left behind by the stretched Sampdoria defence.
Now in control, Roma were able to see out the game with relative ease, before being handed the chance to seal the three points with two minutes to play. Wijnaldum, who tormented Sampdoria all afternoon, was tripped by goalkeeper Ravaglia inside the penalty area, allowing Paulo Dybala to step up and convert from 12 yards. With the floodgates now open, Stephan El Shaarawy wrapped up the win for the Giallorossi in added time, wrapping his right boot around the ball from 18 yards out and curling home a sensational third goal.
It’s four years since Roma last competed in Europe’s premier competition, but Mourinho’s men know that should they continue to rack up wins in Serie A, they’ll be making a return to the UCL for the 2023/24 campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Georginio Wijnaldum (AS Roma)
