AS Roma strengthened their push for a first Serie A crown since the 2000/01 campaign with a confident 3–1 victory over Cremonese at the Stadio Giovanni Zini, a result that lifted them back to the top of the table and extended their dominance in this fixture with a fifth win from the last six league meetings.

Roma’s title challengers were given an early jolt when Mile Svilar had to react sharply to keep out Federico Bonazzoli inside the opening quarter of an hour. That miss proved costly for the hosts, as Matías Soulé soon broke the deadlock for the Giallorossi with a beautifully curled effort from the edge of the area—his fourth Serie A strike of the season.

The visitors thought they had doubled their lead when Lorenzo Pellegrini tucked home a rebound after Emil Audero’s parry, but the goal was chalked off for offside, much to the relief of the home supporters.

The first half unfolded at a lively pace. Svilar was called upon again to deny Jari Vandeputte twice in quick succession, while at the other end Audero had to tip over a crisp first-time attempt from Pellegrini. Cremonese were then handed a lifeline in stoppage time when a penalty awarded in their favour was overturned after review, sparing Roma at a crucial moment.

Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini, however, saw his patience run out shortly after the interval and was dismissed for dissent, leaving him to watch from the stands as his side effectively killed off the contest with two goals in rapid succession.

Evan Ferguson, making his return from injury, opened his Serie A account by steering home from close range after Roma kept a dangerous cross alive, catching Audero stranded. Minutes later, Wesley added a third, sprinting onto Stephan El Shaarawy’s precise through ball and lifting a composed finish over the advancing goalkeeper.

Although Roma consigned Cremonese to a third straight defeat, the visitors left with a slight sense of frustration. Ferguson had a late effort ruled out before Francesco Folino nodded in a consolation from a deep corner, denying Roma what would have been their seventh league clean sheet of the season.