Roma 2-0 Fiorentina: Paulo Dybala brace secures victory for the Giallorossi

Roma beat 10-man Fiorentina 2-0, Lazio beat Sassuolo by the same scoreline for their first win of the new year and Atalanta defeated Salernitana 8-2.

Paulo Dybala scored both goals in Rome, both assisted by Tammy Abraham. Fiorentina had to play most of the game with 10 men after Dodô was sent off in the 24th minute after a second yellow card.

Roma finally asserted their numerical superiority five minutes before half-time when Abraham lobbed a ball over his chest for Dybala’s impressive volley.

Paulo Dybala combined twice with Tammy Abraham as Roma defeated Fiorentina on Sunday

And the two combined again eight minutes from time when Abraham ran to the right side of the box before rolling for Dybala to score.

Dybala has now scored seven goals in 12 league appearances since joining the club from Juventus on a free transfer this summer.

The 29-year-old was also part of Argentina’s World Cup-winning team in Qatar, recovering from a hamstring injury to make guest appearances in both the semi-final and final of the tournament.

Brazilian full-back Dodo saw red for the visitors after picking up a second yellow card after 24 minutes.

Summer signing Paulo Dybala added to his tally for the club in his third game since returning from the World Cup.

The result leaves José Mourinho’s team now just four points behind second-placed AC Milan in Serie A.

The win means José Mourinho’s side are now five games unbeaten in Serie A, having last tasted defeat in a 1-0 loss to rivals Lazio in early November.

The Giallorossi are currently seventh in the league, but the logjam behind leaders Napoli means Roma are just four points behind AC Milan in second place as the halfway point of the season approaches.

Mourinho led the club to its first European silver medal in his inaugural campaign, defeating Feyenoord to clinch the UEFA Conference League in May 2022.