In a highly anticipated match for Paulo Dybala and AS Roma, it was Empoli who emerged victorious with a stunning performance that left the home team stunned. The match held significance for Dybala, who turned down lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, along with the debut of new signings Soulé and Dovbyk before the home fans. However, it was D’Aversa’s Empoli who dominated the night, surprising the Giallorossi. Gyasi put Empoli ahead, followed by a penalty from Colombo, leaving Roma to only respond with a late goal from Shomurodov as the home crowd booed their team off the pitch.
Former Roma star Daniele De Rossi debuted the Argentine duo of Dybala and Soulé playing behind Dovbyk, while Sullo, taking charge of Empoli due to D’Aversa’s suspension, positioned Fazzini as a creative force. Early on, Dovbyk attempted a powerful shot, only to be thwarted. Empoli quickly countered, with Fazzini and Gyasi coming close, and Colombo hitting the bar on another chance. Roma struggled to gain control, lacking width as Dybala and Soulé operated too narrowly, leading to growing frustration among fans.
Just before the break, Dybala set up Pellegrini for a chance that was expertly saved by Vasquez. However, Empoli struck first shortly after with a swift counter-attack that ended with Gyasi scoring from a clever assist by Colombo. The atmosphere at the Olimpico shifted dramatically, as De Rossi sought to ignite a spark in the second half, substituting Celik for Zalewski and adjusting to a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Roma’s attempts to fight back intensified, and Pellegrini hit the crossbar early in the second half, with more near misses compounding the pressure. The turning point arrived when Esposito charged down Paredes and earned a penalty, which Colombo converted coolly, pushing Roma into a deeper crisis.
Despite De Rossi’s efforts to bring on creative players like Baldanzi and Le Fee, Roma’s finishing lacked precision, highlighted by a poor cross from Zalewski. In a last-ditch effort, Shomurodov replaced Soulé and scored a well-placed header from Baldanzi’s corner, revitalizing the home side’s hopes.
In the frantic closing minutes, the Empoli goal turned into a chaos-packed ‘flipper’ as Roma bombarded the area with desperate attempts, but they were unable to find the equalizer. Dybala came close in stoppage time, hitting the post, while goalkeeper Svilar joined the attacking fray, yet the score remained unchanged. At the end of the match, it was Empoli who found the light at the end of the tunnel, while Roma faced a harsh reality check from their supporters.