Paulo Dybala’s brace helps Jose Mourinho’s Roma retain Champions League hopes

Argentina’s World Cup winner Paulo Dybala scored twice as Roma beat Fiorentina in their Serie A clash at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night. 

Dybala’s brace comes after he came off the bench on Thursday to score the goal that helped Roma beat Genoa in the Coppa Italia round of 16. 

Roma went into their clash against La Viola knowing they needed to win to stay in within the Champions League places after their rivals won earlier this weekend. 

Jose Mourinho’s men started the game dominating possession, but failed to create clear chances. However, the home side’s work was made easier when Fiorentina right-back Dodo was sent off for two bookable offences inside the opening 24 minutes. 

Roma took advantage of the extra-man, taking the lead in the 40th minute through Dybala. The Argentine got on the end of a chested pass from Tammy Abraham before firing a volley off the back of Nikola Milenković. 

Dybala’s goal sent Roma into the half-time break with the lead. The second-half resumed with Roma trying to extend their lead, but it was Fiorentina that had the major share of the ball despite playing with ten men. 

However, for all their possession, Vincenzo Italiano’s men could not craft a good opening for an equaliser as Roma were well-organised in defence. 

Mourinho also made a couple of changes that made life difficult for Fiorentina, bringing on Nemanja Matic for Edoardo Bove and Leonardo Spinazzola for Nicola Zalewski. The changes worked perfectly as Roma doubled their advantage eight minutes from time through Dybala. 

The former Juventus man sealed the win for Roma by finishing from close range following a square ball from Abraham. 

The victory keeps Roma in seventh place, but level on points with Atalanta and Lazio, and three points behind Inter Milan.