La Joya finally led his wolfpack - Roma and Napoli level on points

This season’s league race is bizarre—nobody seems to know who will surprise next. Mostly, it’s unpleasant surprises. And there’s no greater Italian paradox than Roma: even though they often look unconvincing and it’s highly uncertain what kind of performance they will show, they are—at the top! Yes, despite countless turbulences, they stand shoulder to shoulder with Napoli, thanks to the man who evokes the strongest emotions among Roma fans.

The Eternal City burned with excitement when Paulo Dybala signed, and every summer and winter, the devoted Roma supporters anxiously wait until the final day of the transfer window to see if the Argentine virtuoso will stay.

He is still here, but injuries have taken their toll. He spends more time off the field than on it. Yet, when he plays, everything revolves around him, he draws sighs of admiration, and against Sassuolo, he directly influenced the points going to Rome, helping Gian Piero Gasperini’s team reach the top spot—0:1 (0:1).

The Eternal City had waited a long time for La Joya to shine again. The jewel glimmered at the Mapei Stadium—after 259 days! That’s how long it took Paulo Dybala to find the net in Serie A. Roma fans had waited nearly nine full months, ever since his goal at Venezia. The goal is HERE!

Dybala delivered victory for the Wolves then, just as he was the sole scorer today. In the meantime, he had found the net, but only in the Europa League: twice against Porto at the Olimpico, and more recently at the same stadium in a defeat to Viktoria Plzen.

Today, Paulo Dybala enjoyed himself on the pitch, and so did everyone around him, including the fans. When he dances, everything feels easier and more beautiful. Roma created a few chances: Wesley missed the best one in the final third, and Lorenzo Pellegrini squandered another excellent opportunity.

The Italian entered the final third of the match, along with Matías Soule, after Mario Hermoso and Artyom Dovbyk had already stepped onto the field. Centimeters separated the native Roman from scoring.

Dybala hasn't scored in eight months

Pellegrini, upon receiving his chance, maneuvered through Sassuolo’s defense, nudged the ball, and rattled the post. He was just short of finishing a solo run that could have been the first celebrated goal since the Rome derby and Lazio defeat a little over a month ago, later almost scoring from distance.

Roma could easily have regretted all the misses and/or slower reactions of the home team in the closing moments, such as when Nemanja Matic tapped the ball into space, and Valid Cedire’s shot in stoppage time was blocked…

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 8

Friday

Milan - Pisa 2-2 (1-0)

/Leao 7, Athekame 90+3 - Cuadrado 60 pen, Nzola 86/

Saturday

Parma - Como 0-0

Udinese - Lecce 3-2 (2-0)

/Karlstrom 16, Davis 37, Buksa 89 - Berisha 59, N'Dri 90+6/

Napoli - Inter 3-1 (1-0)

/De Bruyne 33 pen, McTominay 54, Anguissa 67 - Calhanoglu 59/

Cremonese - Atalanta 1-1 (0-0)

/Vardy 78 - Brescianini 84/

Sunday

Torino - Genoa 2-1 (0-1)

/Sabelli 63 og, Maripan 90 - Thorsby 7/

Sassuolo - Roma 0-1 (0-1)

/Dybala 16/

Verona - Cagliari 2-2 (1-0)

/Gagliardini 23, Orban 59 - Idrissi 77, Felici 90+2/

Fiorentina - Bologna 2-2 (0-1)

/Gudmundsson 73 pen, Kean 90+4 pen - Castro 25, Cambiaghi 52/

Lazio - Juventus IN PROGRESS

***odds are subject to change***