Roma fell from the horse without Mourinho
Coach Jose Mourinho did not direct this match when he received a two-match ban from the Serie A organizers, because of a direct red card in the defeat to Cremonese in the 24th round of Serie A on February 28.
According to Football Italy, the "Special One" is not sitting in the stands, but watching the game from the team bus or the dressing room. Here, he can stay away from "prying eyes" from the media and fans, thereby communicating comfortably with his assistants.
On the Olimpico field yesterday, Sassuolo entered the game better, even taking a 2-0 lead thanks to a brace from Armand Lauriente's close-range shot. These were the first goals that Roma conceded at home in 2023. In the 25th minute, Nicola Zalewski caught the volley and hit the ground over goalkeeper Andrea Consigli, shortening the gap and scoring the first goal in a Roma shirt.
The turning point came in the final official seconds of the first half, when Rui Patricio caught it after Domenico Berardi's stooping shot. However, Marash Kumbulla reacted and kicked the captain Sassuolo. After going to the touchline to review the video, referee Michael Fabbri showed a red card directly to Kumbulla and gave the away team a penalty. On the 11m mark, Berardi finished to the left, while Patricio poured to the right.
On DAZN, referee Luca Marelli explained that Roma had to receive a penalty because the situation was counted as a live ball when Patricio was holding the ball, and Kumbulla fouled Berardi in the penalty area. "The ball was in Patricio's hands, and the referee did not blow the whistle to stop the game. VAR then sent the referee to review the video, and the kick was very clear," said Marelli.
Early in the second half, five minutes into the field, Dybala finished with a touch from Stephan El Shaarawy's release to send the ball into the far corner, shortening the lead to 2-3. After that, Roma was angry with the referee's decisions when he blew Nemanja Matic in a collision with Frattesi, and Mady Camara in a dispute with Rogerio. Off the touchline, Roma analyst Giovanni Marra reacted violently and received a direct red card.
In the rest, each team added one more goal, as Andrea Pinamonti re-established a two-goal lead for Sassuolo and Georginio Wijnaldum sealed the score 3-4 in the third minute of stoppage time. This defeat leaves Roma down to fifth with 47 points, equal to Milan and two points behind Lazio, while Sassuolo is in 13th place.
Mourinho will return in the second leg of the 1/8 round against Real Sociedad in Spain on March 16, but will still be banned from directing in the derby against Lazio in the 27th round of Serie A on March 19.
