Roma started Serie A disappointed without Mourinho

Roma had a personnel crisis on the opening day of Serie A when striker Tammy Abraham and central defender Marash Kumbulla were absent due to injury. Dybala and Pellegrini are suspended for accumulating enough yellow cards from last season. The duo both received cards in the last match of Serie A season 2022-2023, a 2-1 victory over Spezia on June 4.

In the press conference before the start of the game, Mourinho complained that the players were still punished despite entering the new season and said that this is an outdated regulation.

Meanwhile, Mourinho and assistant Salvatore Foti were both banned from directing for the first 10 days of Serie A for insulting referee Daniele Chiffi after the match against Monza on May 3. This means that the Portuguese coach will also miss the next match against Verona on August 26.

Because assistant Stefano Rapetti does not have the necessary training, director Bruno Conti has to take the lead and direct the Roma players in the opening match of the Serie A season 2023-2024. This is the first time Conti has stood in the technical area since 15 games as interim coach of Roma from March to June 2005.

Short of personnel, Roma experienced a difficult match and let Salernitana hold a 2-2 draw right at the Olimpico. Andrea Belotti opened the scoring in the 17th minute, but in the 49th minute, the visitors took a 2-1 lead thanks to a double from Antonio Candreva. It was not until the 82nd minute that Roma equalized 2-2 thanks to Belotti to retain a point at home. The brace against Salernitana was Belotti's first two goals for Roma in Serie A, ending a streak of 34 games in the league since his time with Torino against Empoli in May 2022.

In the second round of Serie A this weekend, Roma is Verona's guest, and Juventus returns home to Bologna.