Roma secured a convincing 4-1 victory against Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia, marking a much-needed return to form for the team. The match, held at Stadio Olimpico, saw the Giallorossi dominate their opponents and advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face AC Milan on February 5 at San Siro.
After a disappointing performance in their previous match against Como, Roma came out strong against Sampdoria. The team, managed by Claudio Ranieri, showcased a revamped lineup that included Nicola Zalewski playing as an attacking midfielder and Australian goalkeeper Matthew Ryan making his debut. The changes paid off, as Roma quickly established control over the game.
The scoring opened in the 9th minute when Artem Dovbyk found the net with a header from a cross by Alexis Saelemaekers, ending his 45-day goal drought. Dovbyk doubled his tally just ten minutes later, capitalizing on another assist from Saelemaekers after a defensive error by Meulensteen. By the 24th minute, Tomasso Baldanzi added a third goal with a powerful shot from outside the box, leaving Sampdoria reeling.
In the second half, Roma eased off the pressure, allowing Sampdoria to gain some confidence. A substitution by Sampdoria brought Fabio Depaoli into play, who created opportunities for his team. This led to Gerard Yepes scoring a consolation goal after taking advantage of a mistake by Hermoso.
Despite the setback, Roma continued to push forward. Substitute Eldor Shomurodov sealed the victory with a header, bringing joy to the nearly full stadium. Although the fans celebrated the win, they remained aware of upcoming challenges, including their next league match against Parma.
The evening was not without concern, as there was an incident in the stands where a spectator suffered a medical emergency and required assistance from medical staff before being transported to the hospital.
Goals:
Roma (3-4-2-1): Ryan; Celik, N’Dicka, Hermoso; Saelemaekers (63′ Soulé), Pisilli (63′ Le Fée) Paredes (70′ Pellegrini), Angeliño; Baldanzi, Zalewski (70′ Dahl); Dovbyk (78′ Shomurodov).
Sampdoria(4-3-3): Vismara; Venuti, Meulensteen, Vuliki, Veroli (46′ Ioannou); Yepes, Vieira (64′ Benedetti), Akinsanmiro (78′ Bellemo); Pedrola (46′ Depaoli), Leonardi (68′ Sekulov), Borini.
