After struggling in their last two matches, Roma returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory at home to Cesena on Wednesday evening thanks to goals from Mattia Destro and Daniele De Rossi.
With important game’s coming up, both domestically and in Europe this was seen as an opportunity to rest Francesco Totti.
The 38-year-old watched on from the bench and the old master’s presence was not required as Roma dominated this match throughout. Although at times they struggled to open up a disciplined Cesena defence the home team sealed the victory with a goal in each half.
As expected, Roma controlled the early possession and moved the ball around the pitch with the fluidity that has come to define Rudi Garcia’s side. They repeatedly probed the Cesena back line and it wasn’t long before the visitors were carved open.
After breaking quickly up the pitch from an eighth minute corner, Gervinho skipped down the right wing, drawing in the Cesena defenders so that when he squared the ball, Destro was unmarked for a simple tap in.
The hosts continued to confidently stroke the ball around, with Gervinho in particular causing Cesena problems when he drifted over to the right flank. The visitors did manage to win a couple of corners as they tried to assert themselves on the game.
However, it was the Giallorossi who continued to control the flow of play as the first half wore on. Destro put the ball in the Cesena net again with a 27th minute header, but it was quite rightly ruled offside by the far sided linesman.
The big Italian hitman should definitely have doubled his side’s advantage a few minutes later when an exquisite ball from Miralem Pjanic put him through on goal, but the 23 year old dragged his effort wide after shooting across Federico Agliardi.
The second half continued to follow the same script as the first, although Garcia will be concerned after Davide Astori was stretchered off in the 53rd minute with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.
Gervinho remained a threat to Cesena as he repeatedly got hold of the ball and drove at defenders. However, despite their domination of possession, Roma struggled to break down a well organised Cesena team and they found clear goal scoring opportunities rather scarce.
They almost paid for their impotence when on a rare break up field, Cesena’s Luigi Giorgi glanced a header just wide of Lukasz Skorupski’s goalpost.
Roma did eventually make the game safe in the 81st minute. From an in swinging corner, substitute Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa got up at the back post to header the ball back into the box where Daniele De Rossi, captaining his side in Totti’s absence, was waiting to guide the ball into the net.
Despite sealing the three points with their second goal, the hosts continued to push forward and Destro missed another sitter deep into stoppage time. In the end it was inconsequential as victory was assured and Roma move level at the summit of the Serie A table.
