Lecce went ahead at the Olimpico thanks to Pontus Almqvist and came agonizingly close to an upset, only for Sardar Azmoun and Romelu Lukaku to win the game in stoppages.
Roma
Patricio: Didn’t have a single save to make the opening half, left with a lot to do on the opening goal. 5.5/10
Mancini: A few rash tackles here and there, should have been more alert to the danger from Banda. 5.5/10
N’dicka: The best of the Roma backline in the first ’45 but was still caught for pace on occasion. 6.0/10
Llorente: Could have done a bit more on the Lecce goal. 5.5/10
Karsdop: Offered more width down the right flank and did some great tracking back at times. 6.0/10
Bove: Lingered on the ball too much on some occasions. 5.5/10
Cristante: The heartbeat of the Roma midfield throughout the game. 6.5/10
Aouar: Helped setup the opening chance and curled in a wicked effort that forced Falcone into a good save. 6.0/10
El Shaarawy: Forced into the LWB role and did well enough, set up Lukaku for a good chance in the second half. 5.5/10
Dybala: Started the game with a clear chance, almost scored a golazo on the half hour mark. Played a great cross to El-Shaarawy that should have been finished and could have scored another worldie on the 80′ min mark. 6.5/10
Lukaku: Simply had to do better from the penalty spot, almost made amends from El-Shaarawy’s pass into the box but largely disappointing. Came to life in the final minute to win it at the very death. 7.0/10
Substitutions:
Sanches: 5.0/10
Azmoun: A peach of a header to draw things level. 6.5
Kristensen: N/A
Belotti: N/A
Zalewski: Brilliant cross to pick out Azmoun. 6.0
Lecce
Falcone: Excellent save to deny Lukaku from the spot before performing an excellent stop on Aouar’s shot. Could do very little on the late Roma winners. 6.5/10
Gendrey: Made a few decent forays into the opposition half, blasted a half chance over the bar. 6.0/10
Pongracic: The best of the Lecce backline for the opening exchanges. Made an awesome run forward to test Patricio. 6.5/10
Baschirotto: A preventable mistake to concede the early penalty. Better thereafter. 5.5/10
Dorgu: Untidy tackle to pick up an early yellow card. 5.5/10
Kaba: Tried to play in some balls behind the Roma back line, a hard working performance, forced a save from Patricio from range. 6.5/10
Ramadani: Went toe-to-toe with the Roma midfield and held his own. 6.5/10
Rafia: Looked off the pace here and there. 5.5/10
Almqvist: Fairly anonymous for large periods of the first half, improved in the second and took his goal with a superb finish. 7.0/10
Krstovic: Had to do better with the half chance he had on the 39′ minute. Better going forward as the game progressed. 6.0/10
Banda: Picked up a harsh booking in the first half but could have been sent off for what looked like a dive. Did some good work in the buildup to the opening goal. 6.0/10
Substitutions:
Gonzalez: 6.0/10
Gallo: 6.0/10
Strefezza: 6.0/10
Piccoli: 5.0/10
Touba: 5.0/10
