Roma won its first match in the Italian Premier League on Sunday, with a crushing victory over bottom-of-the-table Empoli (7-0), including the first goal in its new colors by Romelu Lukaku.
After two defeats and a draw, Roma reassured itself in front of its fans, and it only took two minutes to open the scoring from a penalty kick taken by Paulo Dybala after a handball inside the area from Sebastian Walkiewicz.
Renato Sanchez, who left Paris Saint-Germain on loan, doubled the lead with a header six minutes later after receiving a cross from Rasmus Christensen.
Roma entered the dressing room with a three-0 lead, after an own goal scored by Alberto Gracie (35), who tried to stop Cajusti, who was sent perfectly by Romelu Lukaku.
Dybala increased the score after the break at the end of an attack that confused the Empoli defense (55). He then set up Cristante for Roma’s fifth goal with a 20-metre shot.
In his first participation since arriving on loan from Chelsea, Lukaku put great pressure on Empoli’s defense and ended up scoring in the 82nd minute, before Gianluca Mancini scored the seventh and final goal (86th minute).
Thanks to this success, the team coached by Jose Mourinho moved from 19th place to 12th place (4 points).
Dybala said on the DAZN platform: “We had to send a message and we did it very well, because every player played his role well.”
Mourinho confirmed: “We played very well tonight. We wanted to win. We accomplished the task with a lot of calm. It’s a good evening for everyone. For Lukaku, it’s good that he scored, but that’s not important to me.” The thing is that it gives another dimension to this team.”
“But be careful,” the Portuguese technician warned. He added: “There is still work to be done. I did not become great and neither did the team with this victory.”
Among the other matches played on Sunday, Fiorentina beat Atalanta 3 to 2, while Lecce regained a point from Monza (1-1) and remains in fourth place (8 points) four lengths behind leaders Inter, winners 5-1. Derby vs Milan on Saturday.
