Dybala finally awakens to give Roma victory over Udinese

Roma does play beautiful (or quality) football, but the results are somehow there. Since the beginning of October, there have been five wins in the championship, a draw in the city derby and a minimal defeat against the leader Inter. Mourinho's team wins all the games in which they need to win, no matter how. For the third time in a row, as host, Gialorossi defeated their rival at the very end of the game. Victories against Monza and Lecce were all won in the 90th minute, but tonight Paulo Dybala provided an earlier winner. It was not easy again. Udinese, which had not lost in the last six matches in the league, arrived to Rome and was revived by the arrival of the new coach Gabriele Cioffi. The victory for Udinese against Milan at San Siro was enough of a warning for Mourinho, who did not allow himself to be deceived in a similar way, and Roma won 3:1.

Mourinho fielded the strongest team he had at his disposal. All eyes were on Romelu Lukaku, but tonight it was Paulo Dybala who did the work. The Argentinian did not hit the net for more than two months; he also struggled with injuries but created Udinese's first defeat with a new coach tonight with an assist and a goal. In general, Dybala likes to play against Udinese because he participated in as many as 18 goals against them (as the scorer or with assists) in his career so far.

With a fantastic pass from a free kick in the 20th minute, he found Gianluca Mancini, who only had to head the ball into the net. It was all worth mentioning in the first half. But the second one was much more exciting. Rui Patricio saved Floran Tovan's first attempt but not the second. Inadmissibly easy, the Frenchman was left alone in the box next to the careless Spinazzola and headed the cross from Payer to equalize. Mourinho was angry and reacted immediately. Azmoun and El Shaarawy entered, Spinazzola and Pellegrini left and Roma took the initiative again. Chances were missed by Azmun and Cristante and in the 82nd minute, Lukaku sent the ball into space for Dybala who scored the goal for the lead. El Shaarawy scored in the 90th minute, just to keep Roma’s ‘tradition’ of scoring late, but this time it was only a consolation goal.

SERIE A - Matchday 13

Saturday

Salernitana - Lazio 2-1 (0-1)

/Kastanos 55, Canderva 66 - Immobile 43 pen/

Atalanta - Napoli 1-2 (0-1)

/Lookman 53 - Kvaratskhelia 44, Elmas 79/

Milan - Fiorentina 1-0 (1-0)

/Hernandez 45/

Sunday

Cagliari - Monza 1-1 (1-0)

/Dossena 10 - Maric 61/

Empoli - Sassuolo 3-4 (2-2)

/Caputo 4, Fazzini 30, Vina (og) - Pinamonti 12, Henrique 22, Berardi 66, 90+2/

Frosinone - Genoa 2-1 (1-1)

/Soule 34 , Monterisi 90+4 - Malinoviskyi 38)

Roma - Udinese 3-1 (1-0)

/ Mancini 20, Dybala 81, El Shaarawy 90/

22.45: (3.25) Juventus (3.35) Inter (2.45)

Monday

20.30: (2.78) Verona (3.00) Lecce (2.90)

22.45: (2.37) Bologna (3.20) Torino (3.30)

***odds are subject to change