Pellegrini spot on as Roma beat Sampdoria for third straight league win

With victory enough to lift Roma into the UEFA Champions League qualification positions, the visitors were given a glorious opportunity to take the lead with only six minutes on the clock.

At first reluctant to point to the spot, VAR intervened to recommend Marco Di Bello reverse his initial decision after it appeared Alex Ferrari had handled Tammy Abraham’s delivery into the box.

Not to be stopped in his pursuit of his first league goal of the current campaign, Pellegrini confidently stepped up to make no mistake from 12 yards and give his side an early advantage.

Having failed to register a victory in their first nine matches of the Serie A season for the first time since the 1972/73 campaign, Sampdoria struggled in the final third, eventually registering their first shot on target in the 21st minute.

Dejan Stankovic’s newly-inherited side begrudgingly trundled down the tunnel for the interval, hoping the first half could have continued for longer following an improved display after going behind.

On course to suffer a demoralising fifth defeat in their last six matches, Stankovic introduced a double substitution at half-time as Ignacio Pussetto and Nicola Murru entered the fray for the second half.

Looking for a fourth victory in their last six league matches, Roma were unfortunate not to double their advantage in the 56th minute when Andrea Belotti could only fire straight at the onrushing silhouette of Emil Audero.

There were a limited number of goalscoring opportunities during the remainder of the second half, allowing Roma to remain in the ascendancy and extend their deep-rooted bragging rights after only one defeat in the last nine meetings between the two teams.

In contrast, Sampdoria remain festering at the bottom of the standings without a victory this campaign.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)