MILAN – A Francesco Totti-inspired Roma closed the three-point gap on leaders Juventus with a resounding 3-0 win over Chievo on Saturday as the Serie A title challengers look ahead to a crucial week in Europe.
Roma host Bayern Munich on Tuesday in what should be the biggest test of their Champions League Group E so far having accounted for CSKA Moscow (5-1) and drawn away at Manchester City prior to the international break.
Bayern will travel to the Italian capital feeling confident having routed struggling Werder Bremen 6-0.
Chievo, languishing just above the drop zone, were never likely to push Rudi Garcia’s side having scored just once on six previous visits to the Stadio Olimpico.
Indeed Eugenio Corini’s men could barely muster a shot on goal all night as Roma, who dropped their first points of the season two weeks ago in a bad-tempered 3-2 loss away to Juventus, went about their business with consummate ease.
Chievo defender Dario Danielli, who gave away the foul that led to Totti’s first-half spot-kick, compared this Giallorossi side to the one that Totti inspired to the scudetto in 2001.
“Conceding a goal against such a quality side messes up all your plans,” Danielli told Sky Sport Italia.
“It’s one of the best Roma sides I’ve come up against. Only the one that won the title in 2001, in my opinion, was better.”
Ahead of a run of “key games” for Roma’s chances at home and in Europe, Garcia – who rested Ivorian striker Gervinho with a view to Tuesday’s clash – said that would be an altogether different affair.
“We needed experienced heads out there today,” said Garcia.
“Bayern are ready… but we’re counting on a red hot atmosphere at the Olimpico. We can’t wait, it will be a fantastic game.”
Roma took the lead after only four minutes when Mattia Destro dived to head Miralem Pjanic’s corner past Francesco Bardi from eight yards out. It meant the Italy forward has scored in each of his last three Serie A starts.
Destro and Adem Ljajic both then spurned chances before the latter doubled the hosts’ lead in fine style on 26 minutes after some good work by Totti.
The 38-year-old collected a throw-in in midfield, turned and delivered for Ljajic after sighting the forward in space on the right.
Ljajic’s pace took him past one defender and after cutting inside the Serbian beat Bardi with a fine strike inside the keeper’s far post.
“Ljajic took his goal really well. I’m delighted for him,” said Garcia.
Roma all but wrapped up the points in the 32nd minute when Totti slammed a spot-kick past Bardi after Daniele De Rossi had been hauled down on the edge of the six-yard box by Dainelli as the pair tangled at a corner.
Totti came close to grabbing his second minutes later when he collected just outside the area, cut inside and curled a drive just past the far post with Bardi at full stretch.
Despite Chievo’s lack of threat, the visitors emerged unchanged for the second half and Totti sighted goal again just before being replaced by Alessandro Florenzi on the hour mark when Bardi was forced to get down low to parry his volley.
Destro came close again with a glancing header from a corner, while Radja Nainggolan’s long-distance effort was blocked by the keeper.
Destro then latched on to Nainggolan’s pass through the Chievo defence to test Bardi from a tight angle, but the keeper did well to block. – Nampa-AFP
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