VENICE (ITALPRESS) – Roma beat Venezia 1-0 at the ‘Penzò and won the second away match of its season thanks to a Paulo Dybala penalty kick. Unbeaten in their last eight league games, Claudio Ranieri’s team thus rises to 34 points in the standings. Fourteenth defeat of the season, on the other hand, for a Venice side that remains at 16 at the end of a match that saw former Di Francesco’s men control possession (60 percent) but fail to be incisive in the last meters. Indeed, in the first half the hosts played well with the ball on the ground, but it was Roma that had the main chances. In 16′ the Celik-Dybala combination led to Dovbyk’s shot, who broke free from a marking and kicked with his left footer finding Radu’s save. At 30′ another chance for the Giallorossi: Dybala crosses on a spot kick, Mancini takes advantage of a wrong exit of the goalkeeper, but Nicolussi Caviglia manages to save on the line. Roma was also dangerous in aerial play seven minutes later when Dovbyk’s header forced Radu to lift it into the corner. A penalty kick is needed, however, to unlock the result. Roma is the team that has scored the most in Serie A (6), while Venezia is the team that has conceded the most goals from eleven yards (7). Referee Zufferli pointed to the penalty spot at 57′ after a contact between Marcandalli and Angelino in the Lagooners’ area: Dybala took charge and scored the Giallorossi’s seventh goal on a penalty kick in the league. Ranieri after the goal chose to cover up: out went El Shaarawy and Gourna Douath, in came Nelsson and Pisilli. Ten minutes later Dybala gives way to Baldanzi. Di Francesco responds in the 80th minute by sending Gytkjaer and Maric into the fray. Roma, however, defended neatly and looked in the best possible way for the do Dragao fixture against Porto in the Europa League, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 13.- Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
