Match ends, Roma 1, Empoli 1.
RomaRoma1EmpoliEmpoli1
Roma's Serie A title hopes suffered a blow as they were held by struggling Empoli in a game that saw both teams reduced to 10 men before half-time.
Roma defender Kostas Manolas was sent off for a foul and Massimo Maccarone put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after 39 minutes.
Empoli's Riccardo Saponara was then dismissed for two bookings in the space of three minutes.
Empoli had never won at Roma and were denied by Maicon's 57th-minute strike.
With a six-point gap behind leaders and defending champions Juventus, Roma desperately needed to end a run of three straight draws in the league.
They had knocked Empoli out of the Coppa Italia earlier this month but failed to manage a shot on target in the first half and lost play-maker Francesco Totti to injury before the break.
They trailed after Manolas bundled Saponara to the ground to earn a red card and allow ex-Middlesbrough striker Maccarone to put Empoli in front.
Sapanora then picked up a second caution after handling the ball in first-half stoppage time to balance out the numbers.
Roma continued to struggle to create chances in the second half.
But they avoided defeat when Miralem Pjanic picked out Maicon and the former Manchester City full-back finished superbly with a left-footed shot which curled inside the far post.
Juventus play at mid-table Udinese on Sunday.
Line-ups
Roma
Formation 4-3-3
- 26De Sanctis
- 13SisenandoSubstituted forVerdeat 82'minutes
- 44ManolasBooked at 37mins
- 2Yanga-Mbiwa
- 25Holebas
- 15Pjanic
- 20Keita
- 4NainggolanBooked at 90mins
- 7IturbeSubstituted forFlorenziat 25'minutesBooked at 58mins
- 10TottiSubstituted forAstoriat 40'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8Ljajic
Substitutes
- 1Lobont
- 3Cole
- 23Astori
- 24Florenzi
- 28Skorupski
- 32Paredes
- 48Ucan
- 50Somma
- 52Pellegrini
- 53Verde
- 92Marchegiani
- 99Vestenicky
Empoli
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 33Sepe
- 23Hysaj
- 24Rugani
- 19Barba
- 21Mário Rui
- 88Vecino
- 6ValdifioriBooked at 71minsSubstituted forSignorelliat 84'minutes
- 5SaponaraBooked at 45mins
- 11CroceBooked at 50mins
- 7MaccaroneSubstituted forZielinskiat 58'minutes
- 20PucciarelliSubstituted forMchedlidzeat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Pugliesi
- 2Laurini
- 8Signorelli
- 9Mchedlidze
- 10Tavano
- 14Diousse
- 18Verdi
- 25Brillante
- 27Zielinski
- 28Bassi
- 52Borghini
- Referee:
- Carmine Russo
- Attendance:
- 33,621
Match Stats
Home TeamRomaAway TeamEmpoli
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Roma 1, Empoli 1.
Booking
Radja Nainggolan (Roma) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Davide Astori (Roma).
Post update
Piotr Zielinski (Empoli) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Levan Mchedlidze (Empoli) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Daniele Croce from a direct free kick.
Booking
Davide Astori (Roma) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Davide Astori (Roma).
Post update
Daniele Croce (Empoli) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Seydou Keita (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Levan Mchedlidze (Empoli).
Post update
Attempt blocked. José Holebas (Roma) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adem Ljajic.
Post update
Foul by Seydou Keita (Roma).
Post update
Mário Rui (Empoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Radja Nainggolan (Roma) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Miralem Pjanic.
Post update
Corner, Empoli. Conceded by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.
Post update
Foul by Radja Nainggolan (Roma).
Post update
Levan Mchedlidze (Empoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Empoli. Franco Signorelli replaces Mirko Valdifiori.
Post update
Corner, Roma. Conceded by Daniele Rugani.
