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Roma began the new year with a much-needed 1-0 victory over Bologna in the Italian capital.
Captain Lorenzo Pellegrini scored the game’s only goal from the penalty spot in the opening minutes of the first half after Paulo Dybala was brought down in the Rossoblu’s penalty area.
While not the most glamorous of performances, the win gives the Giallorossi a much-needed confidence boost ahead of Sunday evening’s showdown at San Siro versus Milan.
In what has become a pattern this season, Roma wasted several opportunities to add insurance to their lead. Nicolo Zaniolo missed two golden opportunities to score just moments before and after the break. Paulo Dybala and Roger Ibanez also misfired late in the first half with the Giallorossi having to settle with a 1-0 lead.
Thiago Motta’s side created very little but the few chances they did muster up were saved until the final moments of the affair.Â
Young midfielder Niklas Pyyhtiä nearly broke the hearts of the packed Stadio Olimpico in the 96th minute. The 19 year-old came close to finding the back the net and almost secured Bologna a last-gasp draw.
Despite the scare, Roma managed to hold on, earning both a clean sheet and a vital three points.
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