Mancini’s strike moves Roma into Serie A top four

With a 1-0 victory over Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, Roma moved up to fourth place in Serie A thanks to Gianluca Mancini’s thunderous strike.

Roma’s hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in 2023/2024 were boosted by the centre-rasping back’s second-half drive.

After a week filled with off-field drama for head coach Jose Mourinho and former Juventus star Pablo Dybala, the Giallorossi claimed what could be a huge victory.

After a performance in which they felt they did enough to earn a point, defeat will be a bitter pill to swallow for Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve.

Moise Kean was sent off in the closing stages, less than a minute after coming on, for kicking out at Mancini.

Knowing victory would edge them above AC Milan and into the top four on goal difference, Roma sought to impose themselves upon their visitors early on.

Yet Juventus were stubbornly defiant in front of a partisan crowd, and did their best to take the initiative themselves.

It was the Bianconeri who came closest to a breakthrough in the first half, when Adrien Rabiot saw his header saved by Wojciech Szczesny near the left post in the 43rd minute.

Emboldened by their support from the stands, the hosts broke the deadlock eight minutes after the interval.

That was when Mancini let fly from long range with his right foot and gave Szczesny no chance.

Juan Cuadrado almost levelled matters on the cusp of the hour with a superb free-kick that struck the post.

Juventus were unable to salvage a point and Kean was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Mancini soon after coming on, adding insult to injury. (dpa/NAN)