Roma 2-1 Empoli: Claudio Ranieri wins first game since returning to Serie A side
Stephan El Shaarawy scored Roma's first goal since Claudio Ranieri returned to the club, netting after only nine minutes
Claudio Ranieri made a winning return as Roma boss as his side beat Empoli at home in their Serie A fixture.
Ranieri, sacked as Fulham manager on 28 February, was appointed Roma's head coach on Friday after the club sacked Eusebio di Francesco following their Champions League exit last week.
Stephan El Shaarawy's curling 25-yard strike put Roma ahead, but Juan Jesus' headed own goal quickly made it 1-1.
However, Patrik Schick's powerful header restored the hosts' lead.
Roma played the final 10 minutes with 10 men as midfielder Alessandro Florenzi was sent off for two bookable offences.
There was a late scare for Ranieri as Empoli's Rade Krunic put the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out after a video assistant referee review adjudged there had been a handball.
In an entertaining match at Stadio Olimpico, Empoli's Manuel Pasqual hit the crossbar with a free-kick with Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo and Justin Kluivert both shooting narrowly wide.
Ranieri began his playing career with Roma in 1973-74 and also managed the team from September 2009 to February 2011, finishing second in Serie A in 2009-10, two points behind champions Inter Milan.
The Italian, who managed Chelsea between 2010 and 2014, won the Premier League title with Leicester City in 2015-16, but only gained three victories in 19 matches in a spell of less than four months at Fulham, although he was only out of work for under two weeks.
Di Francesco had guided Roma to the Champions League semi-finals in 2017-18, but his side went out in the last 16 in 2018-19, losing 3-1 away at Porto in the second leg as they were beaten 4-3 on aggregate.
The win over Empoli leaves Roma fifth in Serie A, three points behind fourth-placed Inter Milan in the final Champions League qualifying place.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Roma
1Olsen
24FlorenziBooked at 80mins
5Nunes Jesus
15Marcano
18Santon
4CristanteBooked at 13mins
42Nzonzi
34KluivertSubstituted forKarsdorpat 81'minutes
22ZanioloSubstituted forPerottiat 55'minutes
92El ShaarawyBooked at 62mins
14SchickSubstituted forCelarat 86'minutes
Substitutes
2Karsdorp
8Perotti
19Coric
53Riccardi
55Pezzella
57Semeraro
58Cargnelutti
60Celar
63Cerantola Fuzato
83Mirante
Empoli
69Dragowski
2Di Lorenzo
5Veseli
26Silvestre
39Dell'Orco
23PasqualSubstituted forUcanat 84'minutes
18AcquahBooked at 37minsSubstituted forBrighiat 64'minutes
10Bennacer
33Krunic
17FariasSubstituted forOberlinat 79'minutes
11Caputo
Substitutes
1Provedel
4Brighi
6Pajac
8Traore
21Perucchini
22Maietta
28Capezzi
32Rasmussen
37Oberlin
43Nikolaou
48Ucan
Referee:
Fabio Maresca
Match Stats
Home TeamRomaAway TeamEmpoli
Possession
Home54%
Away46%
Shots
Home10
Away5
Shots on Target
Home3
Away1
Corners
Home5
Away3
Fouls
Home12
Away9
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Roma 2, Empoli 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+7'
Second Half ends, Roma 2, Empoli 1.
Posted at 90'+6'
Attempt saved. Ismael Bennacer (Empoli) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Salih Ucan.
Posted at 90'+5'
Corner, Empoli. Conceded by Iván Marcano.
Posted at 90'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 89'
Delay in match (Roma). Video Review.
Posted at 89'
VAR: Goal. Referee decision on field cancelled.
Posted at 89'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 88'
Delay in match Juan Jesus (Roma) because of an injury.
Posted at 87'
Hand ball by Dimitri Oberlin (Empoli).
SubstitutionPosted at 86'
Substitution, Roma. Zan Celar replaces Patrik Schick.
Posted at 84'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
SubstitutionPosted at 84'
Substitution, Empoli. Salih Ucan replaces Manuel Pasqual.
Posted at 83'
Delay in match Patrik Schick (Roma) because of an injury.
SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Roma. Rick Karsdorp replaces Justin Kluivert.
DismissalPosted at 80'
Second yellow card to Alessandro Florenzi (Roma) for a bad foul.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Alessandro Florenzi (Roma).
Posted at 80'
Ismael Bennacer (Empoli) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
SubstitutionPosted at 79'
Substitution, Empoli. Dimitri Oberlin replaces Diego Farias.
Posted at 79'
Diego Perotti (Roma) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Frederic Veseli (Empoli).
Posted at 76'
Foul by Patrik Schick (Roma).
Posted at 76'
Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Empoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 73'
Attempt missed. Cristian Dell'Orco (Empoli) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Manuel Pasqual with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 72'
Corner, Empoli. Conceded by Juan Jesus.
Posted at 71'
Attempt missed. Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Bryan Cristante.
Posted at 69'
Foul by Justin Kluivert (Roma).
Posted at 69'
Ismael Bennacer (Empoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 66'
Corner, Empoli. Conceded by Iván Marcano.
SubstitutionPosted at 64'
Substitution, Empoli. Matteo Brighi replaces Afriyie Acquah.
Posted at 64'
Alessandro Florenzi (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 64'
Foul by Rade Krunic (Empoli).
Posted at 63'
Attempt missed. Rade Krunic (Empoli) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Manuel Pasqual with a cross.
BookingPosted at 62'
Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 61'
Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma) has gone down, but that's a dive.
Posted at 57'
Foul by Bryan Cristante (Roma).
Posted at 57'
Rade Krunic (Empoli) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 56'
Foul by Alessandro Florenzi (Roma).
Posted at 56'
Rade Krunic (Empoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 55'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Source: bbc.com
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