Roma hope they put the crisis behind them by thrashing Frosinone 4-0 with an inspirational Cengiz Under and another Javier Pastore back-heel.
Eusebio Di Francesco shook things up after some dismal results culminating in a 2-0 defeat to Bologna. He moved to 4-2-3-1, resting Edin Dzeko, Alessandro Florenzi, Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini with Patrik Schick as a centre-forward, to best prepare for Saturday’s Derby della Capitale with arch rivals Lazio. Frosinone also made changes, starting Andrea Pinamonti and Camillo Ciano, with Raffaele Maiello among those out injured.
The Giallorossi made an immediate impact, as Cengiz Under ran forward from his own half and unleashed a missile from 30 metres that bent back Marco Sportiello’s hands.
Schick was at full stretch to meet a Stephan El Shaarawy assist, but could only force a save from Sportiello, while Javier Pastore ballooned over from an Aleksandar Kolarov rolled assist.
Schick almost scored a stunner on Pastore’s assist, but his finish smashed against the crossbar. The move continued and Pastore scored his second back-heel flick of the season, this one from a low cross from the right.
Cengiz Under was inspirational and his assist found El Shaarawy unmarked to tap into the empty net for 3-0.
Frosinone made no impact in the second half and Roma made little attempt to add more goals, although Cengiz Under did see a cross-shot loop on to the bar.
Nicolò Zaniolo received his Serie A debut, having already played against Real Madrid in the Champions League, and hit a snapshot just over.
There was still time for a fourth, as youngster Luca Pellegrini came off the bench for his Serie A debut, immediately ran down the left and pulled back for Aleksandar Kolarov to turn in.
Frosinone could’ve had a consolation at the death, but Raman Chibsah hit the upright after Danilo Soddimo’s free kick.