Roma 1-0 Juventus: Gianluca Mancini goal edges Jose Mourinho’s side to win over Juve, as Moise Kean sees red

A missile of a shot from Gianluca Mancini proved decisive as Roma battled to a 1-0 win over Juventus to move into the top four in Serie A.

Jose Mourinho and Massimiliano Allegri both set their sides up defensively and chances were few and far between in the first half, the best coming when Adrien Rabiot’s header was diverted onto the post at point-blank range by Rui Patricio.

Mancini made the breakthrough early in the second half with a magnificent rasping shot that flew into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Juve responded as Juan Cuadrado’s free-kick clipped the post, an Angel Di Maria effort required a one-handed diving save from Patricio, and a corner struck the woodwork for a third time, but Roma held on for a precious victory.

There was late drama as Juve substitute Moise Kean was dismissed within 40 seconds of coming on for lashing out at Mancini and leaving referee Fabio Maresca with no option other than to pull out a red card.

The result lifts Mourinho’s side above AC Milan into fourth in the standings, 12 points ahead of Juventus in eighth.

TALKING POINT – MOU’S MOVES PAY OFF

Mourinho’s starting line-up came as something of a surprise, with the coach leaving Tammy Abraham on the bench for a second week in a row, preferring to play Paulo Dybala as a lone striker with Georginio Wijnaldum supporting him in an attacking-midfield role.

While the Giallorossi struggled to create many chances over the 90 minutes, the players Mourinho selected executed his plan of frustrating and suffocating Juve’s attackers, who were forced into wide areas from where the towering trio of Mancini, Chris Smalling and Roger Ibanez could deal with any crosses.

They rode their luck at times, with the woodwork coming to their rescue three times and Patricio producing some excellent stops, but Mourinho will be delighted to take a clean sheet and three points from a war of a match.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – GIANLUCA MANCINI

Mancini’s name isn’t often seen on the scoresheet, but he didn’t look like a man with zero goals this season and just seven in his 161 previous Roma appearances when he rasped a daisy-cutter into the bottom corner.

It wasn’t just the Italian’s goal that impressed, though; he played a crucial role in a battling, disciplined defensive performance from the hosts.

PLAYER RATINGS

Roma: Patricio 7; Mancini 8, Smalling 7, Ibanez 7, Zalewski 6, Cristante 7, Matic 7, Spinazzola 7; Wijnaldum 6, Pellegrini 7; Dybala 6

Subs: Karsdorp 6, Bove 6, Abraham 6, Belotti N/A

Juventus: Szczesny 6; Danilo 7, Bremer 6, Alex Sandro 6; Cuadrado 7, Fagioli 6, Locatelli 6, Rabiot 6, Kostic 7; Di Maria 7; Vlahovic 6

Subs: Bonucci 6, Chiesa 6, Pogba 6, Paredes 6, Kean 2

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

44’ OFF THE POST! Juve go close! A cross is whipped to the back post towards Rabiot and he heads into the ground from point-blank range, but Patricio reacts magnificently to stick out a foot and divert it onto the post and out to safety.

54’ GOAL! MANCINI PUTS ROMA AHEAD! What a strike to break the deadlock! Roma go in front thanks to a howitzer of a shot from centre-back Mancini, who unleashes a fierce, low drive from the edge of the area which flies into the bottom corner.

59’ CUADRADO CLIPS THE POST! Cuadrado steps up to take the free-kick and curls one over the wall, but it clips the outside of the post on its way just wide!

90’ KEAN SENT OFF! Mamma mia! Kean has only just stepped onto the pitch – we didn’t even have time to tell you – and he’s received a red card for kicking out at Mancini.

KEY STATS

• Roma have remained unbeaten in both of their Serie A games of the season against Juventus for the first time since 2003-04, with Fabio Capello on the Giallorossi bench. Solidity.
• Due to Gianluca Mancini’s goal, Juventus have conceded a goal from outside the box in Serie A for the first time since May, 1, 2022 (Aramu for Venezia). Bang.