AS Roma had to wait patiently, but eventually ran out 2-0 winners against Sassuolo, avoiding their first Serie A draw this season (W13, L7) and extending the Neroverdi’s winless streak to six league games (D3, L3).

With five wins in six competitive matches at the Stadio Olimpico heading into this game, Roma started brightly. Paulo Dybala tested Arijanet Muric early with a curling effort, signaling the home side’s intent.

Sassuolo responded when Ismaël Koné stayed onside to receive the ball, but his low strike was smothered by Mile Svilar, and Armand Laurienté was unable to capitalize on the rebound. Roma’s frustrations grew when their only available centre-forward, Evan Ferguson, was forced off with an injury while attempting to turn in Dybala’s cross.

Despite their early pressure, the visitors rarely threatened and failed to score before halftime for the 14th time in 20 league games this season.

After the break, needing all three points to remain in the title race, Roma intensified their efforts. Konstantinos Tsimikas came close to breaking the deadlock, firing over from a rebound after some early second-half pressure.

Roma thought they had a breakthrough when Matías Soulé was fouled in the box by Muric around the hour mark, but the initially awarded penalty was overturned for offside, even as Muric was shown a yellow card.

The breakthrough finally came in the 76th minute. Soulé floated a precise cross into the box, where Roma players crowded the area, allowing Koné to power home a header. Just three minutes later, Roma wrapped up the points as Soulé doubled the lead, capitalizing on a clever Stephan El Shaarawy flick to side-foot the ball into the net.

Koné nearly completed a brace in stoppage time with a bending effort wide, but the result was never in doubt. The win marks Roma’s fourth consecutive head-to-head victory over Sassuolo and keeps their league-best defensive record intact, having conceded only 12 goals in 20 matches.

Crucially, the victory moves Roma to within three points of Serie A leaders Inter Milan, although with two extra games played.

For Sassuolo, this was only their second defeat in eight away games (W3, D3), leaving them 12th in the table. While safe from relegation, the Neroverdi remain far from mounting a serious European challenge.