Roma edged past Hellas Verona with a narrow 1-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico in the 33rd round of Serie A, thanks to a close-range finish from Eldor Shomurodov. The result extends the Giallorossi’s unbeaten run in the league to 17 matches and lifts them level with Bologna in fifth place on 57 points, just two adrift of the Champions League positions.
The match was decided early, with the only goal arriving in the fourth minute following a brilliant individual move from Matías Soulé, who beat his marker on the right flank and delivered a low cross for Shomurodov to tap into an open net. It was a clinical start from Claudio Ranieri’s men, who managed the remainder of the match with caution, doing just enough to secure the three points.
Verona offered some resistance, staying compact and organised for long spells, but failed to create any clear chances to trouble Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Despite having more of the ball in certain phases, the visitors lacked incisiveness in the final third and could not capitalise on their opportunities.
Roma, meanwhile, were content to protect their early lead. Soulé remained the most dangerous player on the pitch and nearly doubled the advantage in the 15th minute with a sharp left-footed strike at the near post, which was turned behind for a corner by Lorenzo Montipò. Aside from that, the first half saw limited action in front of the goal, with Verona going close through Diego Valentini and Yayah Kone but without truly testing Svilar.
Ranieri’s side, despite not playing with great attacking intent, showed discipline and defensive stability. The manager opted to start Baldanzi and Shomurodov up front, leaving Lorenzo Pellegrini and Artem Dovbyk on the bench. In midfield, Bryan Cristante was preferred to Leandro Paredes. At the back, Zeki Çelik featured in the starting eleven. Verona, meanwhile, welcomed back Sarr in attack alongside Mosquera, and Bernede got the nod over Suslov.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Roma remained composed without overcommitting, while Verona maintained possession in some areas but struggled to break down the home side’s defensive block. The visitors’ best effort came from Mosquera, whose shot from outside the area narrowly missed the target. Attempts from Baldanzi and Dovbyk also followed, though neither found the mark.
Perhaps the most memorable moment of the second half came when Soulé, the standout performer, was substituted and received a standing ovation from the home supporters. The Argentine has grown in importance for Roma, especially during Paulo Dybala’s injury absence, and is increasingly justifying the club’s significant investment in securing him from Juventus.
This win marked Roma’s 12th victory in their last 17 league matches, with five draws and no defeats in 2025. It has been a remarkable turnaround under Ranieri, particularly after a turbulent start to the season that included managerial changes and inconsistent performances. From mid-table obscurity, Roma now find themselves very much in the European conversation and could yet challenge for a top-four finish.
Verona, while organised and committed, remain in a precarious position. Their lack of attacking edge continues to cost them vital points. For Roma, attention now shifts to a high-stakes fixture next weekend at San Siro against league leaders Inter, where their credentials will face another stern test.
