Pre-match

Paul Fonseca sent out the exact lineup we expected. Giuseppe Iachini threw a curveball by sticking José Callejón up top with Franck Ribery, while Lucas Martínez Quarta got his first Serie A start in relief of the injured Germán Pezzella.

First half

After Martínez Quarta and Nikola Milenković both missed their headers on a thump upfield from goalkeeper Antonio Mirante while marking Edin Džeko, Leonardo Spinazzola wandered through, picked up the ball, and motored the rest of the way down the pitch. A lucky bounce later gave him all day to pick his spot past Bartłomiej Drągowski.

Second half

Fiorentina won a rare corner that Cristiano Biraghi curled to an unmarked Jordan Veretout. The Frenchman set off with 3 AS Roma buddies and covered the entire length of the pitch with four passes, culminating with Pedro tapping home from nearly inside the net. A more disastrous set piece routine you won’t see.

Full time

Goals: Spinazzola 12’, Pedro 70’ (ass. Mkhitaryan)

Cards: Džeko 24’, Veretout 33’, Cristante 90’+1; Castrovilli 32’, Lirola 51’, Martínez Quarta red card 88’

Change in the standings

Roma surge into 7th place on 11 points, equal with Inter Milan and Napoli on points but trailing on goal difference. That leaves Fiorentina in 11th with 7 points, although both Genoa and Benevento could pass them up in the standings with some good results.