By Melody Gross 
Roma, coached by Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho – who was not off the bench, served the first two matches of his suspension after being sent off in the round-of-15 match, against Torino, on November 13 – and with Rui Patricio on the starting line-over the points and played the full 90, won. This Wednesday afternoon over Bologna 1-0, in a match of the 16th round of the Italian Football League, which was held at the Olympic Stadium in the Italian capital.
With ‘giallorossi’ directed, off the bench, by assistant Salvatore Fotti – Mourinho still misses his presence on the bench in Matchday 17, against Milan, at the San Siro – everything was decided early in favor of the team from the capital, in charge. Lucumi beat Argentine Paulo Dybala in the visitors’ penalty area (5), a penalty kick converted by Lorenzo Pellegrini at 1-0 (6), which was the final result of the match in which Roma managed to win. And Bologna, when she wanted to take over and interact with her, did little.
In a first half in which Rui Patricio was a spectator, Mancini nearly made it 2-0 at 17 minutes – with Zaniolo continuing to chip away and trick Bologna’s Polish goalkeeper, Skorobski – and midfielder Brian Cristante (ex-Benfica, in 2014/15) also missed a chance Good with a weak shot and on the visitor’s goalkeeper, who left for this round in 11th place in the standings and continues to add the same 19 points, while Roma now totals 30 points.
The formation of the Italian capital could have solved everything and put an end to the passion before the break – with Zaniolo shooting in after a corner kick from Pellegrini (44′) – but also shortly after the second half, with Skorupski again blocking attempts of the same Zaniolo (48′) . Bologna did not take any chances until the 49th minute with Rui Patricio’s goal, as Dominguez’s cross hit the crossbar.
Plenty of heart, better organization and coolness for the hosts, while Bologna showed very few attacking arguments to ‘tickle’ Roma that at times justified the claim, after winning the UEFA Conference League in 2021/22, now reaching the ‘top’. ”. 4 ‘from the Serie A ranking and reaching the champions in 2023/24.
In the end, already in extra time, a double intimidation of Roma, with cuts to Smalling and Abraham to avoid Bologna 1-1 and to keep the advantage and the three points, which would be unfair to Roma, who win the match, moves. To the sixth place in the ranking .. But he lost Zaniolo due to injury.
After three days of enthusiasm without winning the championship in a farewell to 2022, on this day Roma regained ground and spirit, even without Mourinho on the bench. A tough test follows, in Giuseppe Meazza, with Milan … and again with Salvatore Foti in charge of the team, with Jose Mourinho still suspended in Round 17.
Remember here the most important events of the encounter in the Italian capital, where Jose Mourinho served the first two matches of his suspension after being sent off against Torino..