Mueez Ajao
– Jose Mourinho’s new-look Roma began the Serie A season with a hard-fought but deserved win at Salernitana.
– Bryan Cristante’s first-half strike, which found the corner of the net via a slight deflection, earned Roma victory.
– They could have won by more as debutant Paulo Dybala hit the post and Tammy Abraham’s follow-up shot was blocked.
Also Read: OFFICIAL: Paulo Dybala joins Mourinho’s Roma on free transfer
– Nemanja Matic and Georginio Wijnaldum also came off the bench to make their debuts, with the latter denied a goal on his Roma bow by the offside flag.
– Former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Matic signed a one-year deal in Rome in May, while Dybala arrived on a free transfer from Juventus in July and Wijnaldum joined last week on loan from Paris St-Germain.
– Nicolo Zaniolo also went close on several occasions for the visitors against a Salernitana side who stayed up by a single point in only their third ever Serie A campaign last season.
A winning start ✅
Bryan Cristante with the decisive goal tonight! DAJE!#ASRoma #SalernitanaRoma pic.twitter.com/pTJnkFMbpN
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) August 14, 2022
– Roma finished sixth in their first full season under Mourinho in 2021-22 but won the Europa Conference League and will play in the Europa League this term.
