Match ends, Verona 1, Roma 3.
Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1RomaRoma3
Second-placed Roma closed the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus to six points with a routine win at Verona.
The Giallorossi opened the scoring in first-half injury time when Adem Ljajic tapped in Gervinho's left-wing cross.
Verona's Emil Hallfredsson smashed a fierce drive past Roma keeper Morgan De Sanctis to level soon after the break.
But Roma retook the lead when Gervinho struck after jinking past several home defenders, before Francesco Totti capped the win with a late penalty.
It was an important win for Rudi Garcia's men as they looked to take advantage of Juventus's slip-up at Roma's cross-city rivals Lazio on Saturday.
The defending champions battled back to earn a 1-1 draw in Rome, after seeing goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon sent off midway through the first half.
Roma, who were beaten 3-0 at Juve earlier this month, started positively as they sensed an opportunity to reinvigorate their fading challenge for the Scudetto.
But, after Mattia Destro and Ljajic both missed early chances, they had to be patient until the Serbia international converted from close range.
Verona equalised when Hallfredsson profited from a strong burst by team-mate Juan Iturbe, before former Arsenal forward Gervinho continued his impressive form with a smart strike.
And Roma sealed the win after they were awarded a debatable spot-kick for a foul on Greece defender Vasilis Torosidis.
Veteran striker Totti, who was introduced as 76th-minute substitute, converted his 232nd goal for Roma to secure a third consecutive win since their defeat at Juventus.
Line-ups
Hellas Verona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Bittencourt Pinheiro
- 23González
- 29Cacciatore
- 5DonatiSubstituted forLongoat 83'minutes
- 25Marques PintoBooked at 81mins
- 22MaiettaSubstituted forDonadelat 39'minutes
- 2Orestes CaldeiraBooked at 9mins
- 10HallfredssonBooked at 79mins
- 9Toni
- 15Iturbe
- 21Gomez TalebSubstituted forMartinhoat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Martinho
- 7Longo
- 8Cacia
- 11Jankovic
- 12Andrade
- 14Cirigliano
- 17Donsah
- 26Sala
- 30Donadel
- 98Borra
Roma
Formation 4-3-3
- 26De Sanctis
- 13Maicon
- 35Torosidis
- 16De Rossi
- 17Benatia
- 5Castan da Silva
- 44NainggolanBooked at 44minsSubstituted forPjanicat 60'minutes
- 6Strootman
- 22DestroBooked at 67minsSubstituted forTottiat 76'minutes
- 27Yao Kouassi
- 8LjajicSubstituted forFlorenziat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Lobont
- 3Pires Ribeiro
- 7de Mattos Filho
- 10Totti
- 11Taddei
- 15Pjanic
- 24Florenzi
- 28Skorupski
- 33Jedvaj
- 46Romagnoli
- 94Ricci
- 95Mazzitelli
- Referee:
- Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni
Match Stats
Home TeamHellas VeronaAway TeamRoma
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Verona 1, Roma 3.
Post update
Offside, Roma. Francesco Totti tries a through ball, but Gervinho is caught offside.
Post update
Francesco Totti (Roma) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Alessandro Florenzi.
Post update
Attempt saved. Alejandro González (Verona) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rômulo with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Verona. Conceded by Morgan De Sanctis.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alessandro Florenzi (Roma) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Maicon.
Post update
Kevin Strootman (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Rômulo (Verona).
Post update
Attempt missed. Marco Donadel (Verona) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Fabrizio Cacciatore.
Post update
Daniele De Rossi (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Juan Iturbe (Verona).
Post update
Attempt missed. Rômulo (Verona) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Luca Toni.
Post update
Corner, Verona. Conceded by Maicon.
Substitution
Substitution, Verona. Samuele Longo replaces Massimo Donati.
Goal!
Goal! Verona 1, Roma 3. Francesco Totti (Roma) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Booking
Rafael Marques (Verona) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Penalty Roma. Vasilis Torosidis draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Alejandro González (Verona) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Attempt missed. Leandro Castán (Roma) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Francesco Totti with a cross following a set piece situation.
