The China Mail - Roma beat Verona to join Napoli at Serie A summit

Artem Dovbyk nodded home his first goal of the season early on at the Stadio Olimpico before Matias Soule ensured that Roma would move up to second on 12 points with 11 minutes remaining.

Gian Piero Gasperini's team, who host Lille in the Europa League on Thursday, are behind Napoli on goal difference after a bitty performance in gloriously sunny Rome.

"A number of players were having difficulties as it was the first time this season we've played three games in a week and not everyone recovered fully," said Gasperini to DAZN.

"We had problems that we've not had in other games, you could see that some players were not at their sharpest... we struggled more than we should have done."

Verona are 16th on three points and yet to win this season but Paolo Zanetti's team performed well and should have been level in the 28th minute, when Gift Orban somehow hit the bar when presented with a chance to score from less than six yards out in front of an open goal.

One of Napoli or Milan will be top of the division come Sunday night with a draw at the San Siro enough for Antonio Conte's league leaders to hold on to top spot.

Pisa came close to their first win in Serie A in over three decades but had to settle for a goalless draw with Tuscan rivals Fiorentina.

Henrik Meister sent Pisa fans wild when he smashed home what looked like the opening goal in the 71st minute but VAR officials spotted him handling the ball in the lead-up to his shot.

Juan Cuadrado then struck the post shortly afterwards but Alberto Gilardino's promoted team stay in the relegation zone on two points in their first top-flight season since 1990/91.

Fiorentina, who had two Moise Kean goals ruled out for offside, are only a point above the drop zone after a poor start to the season under new coach Stefano Pioli.

W.Tam--ThChM