Roma edge past Torino with late Pisilli goal for fourth straight win

Pisilli's Late Strike Seals Roma's Fourth Straight Win at Torino

Roma secured their fourth consecutive Serie A victory with a 2-0 triumph over Torino at the Olimpico Grande Torino, with Niccolò Pisilli's stoppage-time goal sealing three points after Donyell Malen had broken the deadlock in the first half.

The giallorossi climbed to 12 points with a perfect record in the competition, though they faced determined resistance from a Torino side that displayed considerable fight and grit throughout the contest. Pisilli, battling through cramps, summoned the strength to double the advantage with a powerful finish at the far post that closed out the match.

Malen Breaks First-Half Deadlock

The opening period proved a cagey affair, with the home side defending compactly and Roma searching for openings without creating clear-cut chances. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 37th minute through a moment of quality from the visitors' attacking partnership.

Paulo Dybala provided the creative spark, slipping a pass to Malen after Gianluca Mancini had recovered possession in the attacking third. The Dutch striker kept his composure after winning a challenge, coolly dispatching past goalkeeper Vanja Perri to open the scoring. The goal represented Malen's 20th strike in Serie A across 21 appearances, underlining his remarkable scoring rate in Italian football.

The combination between the Argentinian playmaker and the Netherlands international had threatened earlier in the half, with Dybala releasing Malen into open space only for the offside flag to cut short the opportunity. Another promising move saw Malen launch Matías Soulé, though the winger's poor first touch allowed the ball to return to the Dutchman, whose deflected effort from inside the box drifted narrowly wide of Perri's left-hand post.

Torino's Resistance and Missed Opportunities

Abate's Torino adopted a compact 3-5-2 formation designed to frustrate the visitors, with the granata maintaining their shape and attempting to hit Roma on the counter. Giovanni Simeone, included in the squad despite a back injury, led the line alongside Nikola Vlašić in attack.

The Croatian playmaker and captain carried significant responsibility for providing Torino's attacking threat, having yet to find the net this season despite an improved performance in the previous week's away victory against Fiorentina. Abate had challenged Vlašić to deliver a statement performance against elite opposition, asking the number 10 to shoulder leadership duties and inspire the home support.

Torino's most dangerous moment came when Simeone burst into the penalty area and attempted to round Mile Svilar, but the Roma goalkeeper demonstrated excellent positioning to smother the danger. The Argentinian striker later found himself one-on-one with Svilar after receiving a through ball from Bragança, opting for a delicate chip that the giallorossi shot-stopper read brilliantly, closing down the angle to deny the attempt.

Mandragora tested Svilar from distance with a fierce drive that required the goalkeeper's attention, representing a brief spell of pressure from the hosts. The midfielder later tried his luck from a 30-yard free kick, though Svilar gathered comfortably.

Gasperini's Tactical Adjustments

The Roma manager, Gianpiero Gasperini, fielded his side in a 3-4-1-2 system with several notable selection choices. Evan Ndicka missed out due to an intestinal fever, prompting Mancini to shift to right centre-back with Leonardo Balerdi deployed centrally. Soulé retained his place in the starting XI, while Molina occupied the left flank in the absence of Wesley, who failed to recover in time.

Dybala operated in the creative role behind the front two, continuing the form that had seen him torment Torino throughout his career. The former Juventus star had found the net 11 times against the granata, making them one of his favourite opponents. His history at the Olimpico Grande Torino included a goal in the previous season's fixture when Gasperini's side had also secured victory, with Malen joining him on the scoresheet on that occasion.

The match official was Fabio Maresca from the Naples section, assisted by Alberto Tegoni and Gaetano Fontana, with Simone Sozza serving as fourth official and Gianluca Aureliano and Davide Ghersini handling VAR duties.

Second Half Battle

Roma began the second period applying pressure, forcing Torino into defensive mode and seeking to exploit counter-attacking opportunities. Abate responded with a double substitution, withdrawing Gineitis and Belghali to introduce Cacciamani and Bragança.

The Portuguese midfielder Bragança immediately made an impact, threading passes and attempting to unlock the visitors' defence. His clever footwork allowed him to skip past Pisilli in midfield, only to be brought down for a free kick. Later, Bragança tried to force his way into the penalty area before Dybala intervened with assistance from Mario Hermoso to clear the danger.

Dybala continued to orchestrate proceedings for the visitors, winning a foul on the edge of the area after recovering possession in the attacking zone and being fouled by Vlašić. His delivery and movement kept Torino's defence stretched, though the hosts' organization limited clear openings.

Gasperini made changes to manage the game, replacing Bryan Cristante and Dybala with Marten de Roon and Manu Koné in midfield. The manager later withdrew Malen in favour of Santiago Castro, while Soulé made way for Rodrigo Mora.

Defensive Solidity Tested

Both defensive units faced examination as the match wore on, with individual interventions proving crucial. Balerdi produced a vital recovery tackle to halt Bragança as the midfielder surged toward goal, showcasing the centre-back's reading of danger. The French defender later delivered another important block to prevent Vlašić from breaking through toward Svilar's goal.

At the opposite end, Saúl Coco demonstrated his awareness by intercepting a slow pass from Soulé intended for Malen, then showing determination to battle back and win possession from Fortini. Dennis Cömert dealt with a Malen threat by closing down the space, before launching himself forward a minute later with an ambitious effort that sailed well over the crossbar.

Mancini contributed defensively by heading clear a cross from Mora intended for Castro, though the delivery lacked accuracy. The Italian defender later rose highest to meet another cross, with Perri collecting his header without difficulty.

Late Drama and Yellow Cards

As Roma protected their slender advantage, discipline became a factor, with several players receiving cautions. A foul on Simeone in the attacking third resulted in a yellow card, while Lucas Biglia, a member of Abate's coaching staff, was sent from the technical area.

Abate introduced striker Duván Zapata in place of Mandragora as Torino committed more bodies forward in search of an equalizer. The home side pressed higher up the pitch, though Roma's defensive organization held firm under the mounting pressure.

Castro squandered a promising position when Mora delivered a poor pass to the substitute, summing up the visitors' occasional sloppiness in the closing stages. However, Torino could not capitalize on these moments of uncertainty.

Pisilli Delivers the Killer Blow

With time running out and Torino committed to attack, Roma broke decisively to settle the contest. Pisilli, visibly struggling with cramp after a demanding shift in midfield, found the reserves to race forward and meet a pass at the far post. His powerful finish gave Perri no chance, confirming the three points and extending Roma's winning streak to four matches.

The result maintained Roma's perfect start to the campaign following previous victories over Atalanta, Fiorentina and Lecce, establishing them as early-season contenders. For Gasperini's side, the combination of tactical discipline and individual quality proved decisive against opponents who had hoped to build on their own away triumph against Fiorentina the previous weekend.

Torino's search for consistency continues, with Abate's men unable to replicate the resilience shown in Florence despite a committed performance. The absence of Che Adams through injury limited the hosts' attacking options, though Ricardo Rodriguez returned to the squad following his previous captaincy duties.

Tactical Battleground

The contest between Vlašić and Dybala had been identified as a potential decisive duel, pitting the Croatian's dribbling ability and leadership against the Argentine's refined technical quality and instinct. While Dybala played a central role in the opening goal and demonstrated his class throughout, Vlašić struggled to impose himself sufficiently to alter the outcome.

Abate had challenged his playmaker to elevate his game against top-tier opposition following an improved showing in Tuscany, recognizing that the attacking burden would fall heavily on the number 10 with Adams sidelined and Simeone carrying a fitness concern. The substantial home crowd that filled the Olimpico Grande Torino witnessed committed effort from their side, but quality at the decisive moments separated the teams.

The match broadcast live on DAZN and DAZN 1 channel 214, with text commentary available on Gazzetta.it, showcased Roma's growing momentum under Gasperini's guidance. The manager's decision to deploy Dybala from the opening whistle alongside the prolific Malen and emerging talent Soulé provided the creative firepower to unlock a determined Torino rearguard.

Torino's defensive framework, built around the central trio of Comuzzo, Coco and Cömert with wing-backs providing width, kept the visitors at bay for extended periods. The midfield trio of Gineitis, Mandragora and Fitz-Jim worked diligently to close down space, with Fortini and Belghali offering industry from the flanks before their substitutions.

Roma's bench strength, featuring Lorenzo Pellegrini among the substitutes alongside Castro, De Roon, Koné, Wesley, Mora and Ghilardi, provided Gasperini with multiple options to refresh his team. Torino's replacements included Patterson, Biraghi, Ilkhan, Aboukhlal, Oristanio, Rodriguez, Kulenovic, Bragança, Ismajli, Cacciamani and Zapata, giving Abate alternatives as he sought to change the game's direction.

The victory extended Roma's impressive away form at the Olimpico Grande Torino, building on Gasperini's success at the venue from the previous campaign. With the giallorossi now sitting on maximum points from four fixtures, their credentials as genuine challengers have been firmly established in the early weeks of the season.