Roma took on Bologna this evening looking to maintain their best-ever start to a Serie A season, with Rudi Garcia's men winning their first five games in succession.
Bologna travelled to the Olimpico without a win in six matches and quickly fell behind thanks to a goal from Alessandro Florenzi, before Gervinho and Mehdi Benatia put Roma three ahead in 25 minutes.
Gervinho got his second and Roma's fourth just after the hour mark, with Adem Ljajic adding gloss to the scoreline in the closing stages.
Look back at a dominant display which took the Giallorossi top of Serie A with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening Calcio fans. Thanks for sticking with Sports Mole for the final action of the weekend of Serie A, as Roma bid to maintain their 100% start to the campaign against Bologna.
Roma have been a breath of fresh air in Serie A so far this season, winning all five of their games under new coach Rudi Garcia. Last weekend's win in the derby against Lazio was followed up by a 2-0 success at Sampdoria, which all means that the Giallorossi's efforts have been nothing short of exemplary so far.
Garcia's early achievements at the Olimpico have been all the more remarkable given the summer sale by Roma, with Erik Lamela, Pablo Osvaldo and Marquinhos all allowed to leave for big money. The Frenchman has brought in a string of prudent signings and they have quietly been effective early on, with Kevin Strootman and Mehdi Benatia in particular earning plaudits.
Bologna's start to the season has been quite the opposite, with three points and no wins to show from their first six games. Stefano Pioli's side did come agonisingly close to a first victory in midweek though, surrendering a 3-1 lead to AC Milan after conceding twice in stoppage time.
Pioli is still to settle on his best starting XI and it has showed thus far. The Rossoblu are still heavily reliant on Alessandro Diamanti for creative spark in the final third, with Jonathan Cristaldo and Rolando Bianchi yet to convince in attack.
The Rossoblu can point to a strong recent record though at the Olimpico, with a run of three matched unbeaten stretching back to 2010. Bologna also won this fixture 3-2 last season, but Roma look a different proposition under Garcia to that side, particularly in defence.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! We have just received word on the starting XI's from the Olimpico and a return to the fold for Francesco Totti, who was rested at Sampdoria in midweek. A full look at tonight's lineups will follow in just a few moments.
ROMA XI: De Sanctis; Torosidis, Benatia, Castan, Balzaretti; Pjanic, De Rossi, Strootman; Florenzi, Totti, Gervinho
BOLOGNA XI: Curci; Garics, Antonsson, Mantovani, Morleo; Pazienza, Perez; Kone, Diamanti, Laxalt; Cristaldo
Garcia has made three changes in total to what looks like a very attacking side. Totti replaces Marco Borriello in attack, while Vasilis Torosidis comes in for the injured Maicon at right-back. One final inclusion to report for the Giallorossi, with Alessandro Florenzi taking Marquinho's place out wide.
One area Roma do not tinker with is central midfield, where they boast the trio that can match anyone in Serie A. Daniele De Rossi sits slightly deeper in an anchor role, allowing Kevin Strootman and Miralem Pjanic to dictate play and provide a supply line for Totti and Gervinho.
Bologna meanwhile have made one major change to their starting XI from the midweek six-goal thriller with Milan, which sees Panagiotis Kone replacing Lazaros Christodoulopoulos on the left flank. Uruguay youngster Diego Laxalt keeps his place after scoring a brace on his debut in midweek, with Diamanti playing just off Cristaldo.
Roma fans will be desperate for Totti to register tonight more than usual, with the captain just two days shy of his 37th birthday. A strike this evening would be his 283rd for the club in all competitions, as the Giallorossi legend enters his third decade with the club.
PREDICTION! On paper this clash looks to be fairly lopsided, but Bologna have players capable of starring on their day in Diamanti and Kone. Roma have scored all their goals in the second half so far this season but I expect that to change tonight, with Garcia's side capable of making it six wins from six in a 2-1 success.
A reminder as the two teams emerge at the Olimpico that Roma would go back to the top of Serie A with a win tonight. Can Garcia's men maintain the club's best-ever start to the season, or will Bologna spring a surprise for their first win of the campaign? We are about to find out.
We are slightly late getting underway at the Olimpico but Roma eventually get us underway, shooting from left to right. Bologna are in a changed white and blue strip, looking to contain early on.
Torosidis gets forward down the right as Roma press early on, but loses possession as Diamanti looks for Cristaldo with a ball over the top. Benatia comes across to shield out of play, helping the hosts resumes possession with a goal kick.
Pjanic wins the ball high up the pitch for Roma but his attempted flick forward towards Totti trickles out of play. Bologna take quickly and switch the play with Antonsson's long pass cut out.
Bologna full-back Morleo has sustained an early ankle injury in a collision with Torosidis, with his ankle twisting on the turf. I every much doubt that the veteran will be able to continue as he limps to the touchline.
GOAL! Roma 1-0 Bologna (Florenzi)
What a start for in-form Roma as Florenzi follows up to give the hosts an early breakthrough. The forward reacted quickest after Curci could only parry Pjanic's powerful free kick, sending into an empty net from close range for his third of the season.
In their very next attack Roma go within inches of a second as Balzaretti misses the far post by the slimmest of margins. The full-back bombed on to meet Totti's chip over the top, after Gervinho had held the ball up waiting for support. His low effort catches Curci out of position, but misses the empty net as Bologna get a huge left-off.
An impressive start for the hosts continues as Torosidis and Balzaretti stretch the play, giving De Rossi and Pjanic plenty of options. Bologna are yet to offer anything on the counter, but Morleo looks to be finally free of that early ankle knock.
GOAL! Roma 2-0 Bologna (Gervinho)
Gervinho has just clinically put Roma further ahead in a strike which Arsenal fans will scarcely believe if they see. The forward pounced to break forward in quick counter, stepping inside Antonsson before beating Curci with a low strike at the near post. This is mightily impressive from the Giallorossi.
De Sanctis is called into action for the first time as he bats away a free kick from Diamanti, which was neither a cross or shot in truth. This looks a long way back now for Bologna, but they did score three times against Milan on Wednesday so there is always hope.
Gervinho and Balzaretti combine again down the left, with a handball appeal quickly waved away by the referee. This is utterly dominant stuff from Garcia's side, who are being given room to pass the ball freely.
A quiet period of play as Gervinho and Florenzi switch wings, with Garics just cutting out a slick pass from Strootman in the final third.
GOAL! Roma 3-0 Bologna (Benatia)
Roma go three to the good inside 26 minutes as Benatia smashes in a volley from close range. The Moroccan was given the freedom of the Bologna penalty area to meet a corner kick, hammering home his second in as many matches beyond Curci and into the corner. Imperious stuff from the Giallorossi!
YELLOW CARD! Perez rather cynically pulls Gervinho down on the halfway line after being beaten for pace, tearing the Ivorian's shirt in two. The referee books the defender as he kicks the ball away in frustration. What a horrible start for the visitors.
The heavens have opened at the Olimpico but that has not dampened Roma's fine start with Pjanic and Strootman exchanging before switching to Balzaretti with precision.
Bologna attempt to drive down the left through Laxalt, but can't get anything going as Torosidis comes across to cover. The visitors have barely featured in the final third, with Diamanti crowded out by a congested midfield.
Finally some signs of life from Diamanti, who drives forward and runs past Pjanic at pace. The Italy international creates an angle to shoot and aims low through De Rossi's legs, with his strike just falling a few yards wide of De Sanctis's far post.
Balzaretti is finally forced into action defensively as he comes across to deny Laxalt in the box, before beating Kone at the far post in the very next passage of play. It's been a very impressive first half from the full-back so far.
YELLOW CARD! Morleo simply has to be cautioned after being caught side-on by Gervinho's pace, pulling the winger's short to stop a promising break and earn a booking.
Diamanti wins a free kick for the hosts and takes himself, but fails to beat the first defender with a woeful delivery. That just sums things up for Pioli's side in the the first period in truth.
Bologna's defence simply cannot handle Gervinho's raw pace as he slips through again, cutting inside to leave Curci on the floor. The visitors get enough men back to scramble clear, with Balzaretti's eventual cross headed away.
HALF TIME Roma 3-0 Bologna
Nothing short of utter dominance from Roma in that first half at the Olimpico, building a three-goal advantage at the interval. Bologna have not going and been punished for defensive frailties that are yet to be addressed.
Florenzi got the ball rolling for Garcia's side after just eight minutes, becoming Roma's first player to score in the opening half this season. Gervinho soon followed up with a well-taken drive on the counter, before Benatia's emphatic volley had Bologna three down inside 26 minutes.
Bologna set their stall out to attack with Diamanti, Kone and Cristaldo all starting, but they have been swamped in central midfield and caught out by Gervinho's pace on the break. Pioli's needs to rally his troops at the break or the scoreline could get truly embarrassing in the second half.
Garcia's men are well on course to take back top spot in Serie A, but their style of play is every bit as eye-catching as the positive results. Pjanic, Strootman and De Rossi keep the ball beautifully in midfield, with the full-backs stretching the match and providing space for that trio to thrive.
Defensive solidity is not something Roma fans are accustomed too, but that is exactly what Garcia has provided early in his tenure. Bentatia looks a fine addition and has shored up a famously leaky backline in recent weeks, while Balzaretti looks revitalised this year after coming in for heavy criticism under both Zdenek Zeman and Aurelio Andreazzoli.
BENCH WATCH! Just before we resume at the Olimpico there is just time to look at the options available to both managers in reserve. Pioli could call upon Krhin, Della Rocca or Bianchi to prompt a change in fortunes, while Roma have Ljajic, Borriello and Marquinho looking to fight their way into a winning side.
SUBSTITUTION: Bologna have indeed made a change at the break, with Christodoulopoulos replacing Perez in midfield. The visitors get the second half underway and immediately press forward as Laxalt and Cristaldo attack down the left.
Roma are back to breaking with intent on the counter as De Rossi beats two players before advancing into the final third. The midfielder attempts a delicate chip, but Curci reads his intentions and stays upright to catch comfortably.
YELLOW CARD! Diamanti is booked for the third match running after an over-zealous challenge on Strootman. The Bologna skipper was just a bit too keen to press in the final third, clattering the Dutchman and picking up a caution as a result.
Kone gives the ball away chealy and presents Pjanic with the ball just outside the penalty area. He quickly slips the ball out wide to Totti, but Kone atones for his error by tracking back to clear with a fine tackle. The flag was eventually raised on the far side, with the captain judged to be offside.
Totti has trudged to the touchline after complaining of pain in his chest after controlling the ball with that part of his body. I expect the veteran to continue as he comes back on following a short consultation with the physio.
The rain is torrential now as a deluge falls on the Olimpico. Bologna are playing a dangerous game as Morleo switches play, but just about gets away with as Torosidis brings down Diamanti.
Christodoulopoulos beats two players and cuts inside towards the penalty area, but is quickly crowded out as an attempted reverse finds Laxalt offside. Bologna need much better in the final third, with Cristaldo starved of service.
GOAL! Roma 4-0 Bologna (Gervinho)
Gervinho has just scored his second and his fourth and what a find individual effort. The winger drives inside and sends Antonsson falling to the floor in his desperate attempt to keep up. The Ivorian's pace sets him free but he still has plenty to do, curling a clinical strike into the top corner and beyond Curci. Game, set and match for Garcia's men!
SUBSTITUTIONS: Gervinho's superb second proves to be his last action of the night, with the forward brought off to a standing ovation. Adem Ljajic comes on in his place, while Bologna have swapped the largely anonymous Piazenza for Krhin.
Another quick change for Roma as Brazilian veteran Taddei comes on, giving the hugely impressive Kevin Strootman a rest in central midfield.
Bologna are still chasing a response in vein as Roma press them back deep into their own half. Krhin looks up and switches the play, with Kone looking up and deciding to shoot from 35 yards with little on. His strike is dipping down towards the crossbar and De Sanctis decides to take no chances, tipping over for a corner kick.
Diamanti's delivery from set pieces have been well below his usual standard tonight and that continues with a poor corner kick, which misses a packed penalty area and goes behind on the opposite side for a corner kick. When play resumes Krhin and Pjanic clash heads in an aerial duel, with both players needing treatment to force a break in play.
SUBSTITUTION: Roma make their final change as local lad Florenzi comes off after a successful night, which saw the youngster open the scoring. On comes veteran striker Borriello in his place, while Bologna have swapped Diamanti for Bianchi.
Borriello really should have scored within a minute of coming on, drifting beyond his marker as Mantovani quite ridiculously attempts to play offside at the last moment. From a tight angle the forward opts for pace over power, lashing wide of the near post.
Roma are controlling possession and territory in their pursuit of a fifth goal, as Balzaretti comes close to connecting with Totti's ball over the top. Pjanic switches the play back Totti, with his quick pass forward to Borriello just catching the striker offside, but that was a marginal call to say the least.
GOAL! Roma 5-0 Bologna (Ljajic)
Roma's merciless march forward brings a fifth goal as Ljajic gets in on the act. The forward burst onto Pjanic's pass and from a tight angle had plenty to do. A quick look up saw Curci going to ground early and that anticipation proved the difference, with a clever chip sailing over the keeper and just under the crossbar.
A chorus of 'Ole' greets a prolonged spell of passing in midfield before Totti switches out wide to Torosidis, with his cross blocked behind for a corner kick by Morleo. Roma take the corner short and find Totti in space eight yards from goal, but with the script written the skipper drags his shot well past the far post.
De Rossi picks up a silly late booking for intentional handball, after instinctively putting his hand up to block a forward pass. From the free kick Kone drills into the box, with Laxalt eventually winning a late corner kick for the visitors.
FULL TIME Roma 5-0 Bologna
Well that was emphatic from Roma, who return to the top of Serie A with a 5-0 win over Bologna. This is now the Giallorossi's best ever start to a league campaign, with six successive league victories.
That just about brings an end to our coverage from Italy this weekend. Thanks for joining Sports Mole and be sure to check back in for news and reaction from all of Europe's top leagues. Good evening!
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
