Roma Edge Fiorentina 2-1 at Florence's Stadio Artemio Franchi

• October 6, 2025
• C Badenhorst
• 2 Comments

When AS Roma walked onto the pitch at Stadio Artemio Franchi on October 5, 2025, the stakes felt higher than a derby. The Serie A clash in Florence delivered a 2-1 victory thanks to early strikes from Moise Kean and Matías Soulé, while Bryan Cristante sealed the win before half‑time. The win not only gave Roma three extra points but also extended their historical edge over city rivals ACF Fiorentina – a narrative that still matters to fans across Italy.

Tactical Overview and Starting Line‑ups

Both sides opted for a 3‑4‑2‑1 shape, a modern twist that forced the midfield to become a battleground. Fiorentina trusted veteran David De Gea between the posts, backed by a back three of Marin Pongračić, Pablo Marí and captain Luca Ranieri. In midfield, Dodo and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia shuffled with Rolando Mandragora and Robin Gosens, while Jacopo Fazzini and Albert Gudmundsson attempted to feed lone striker Moise Kean.

Roma mirrored the formation but with a different flavor. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar guarded the net, protected by a trio of Mehmet Zeki Celik, Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka. Their midfield engine featured Wesley, the experienced Bryan Cristante, Kouadio Koné and Konstantinos Tsimikas, while Matías Soulé and Tommaso Baldanzi acted as link‑up men for forward Artem Dovbyk.

Here's the thing: the symmetry made the half‑hour opening a chess match, each side probing for space. In reality, Roma's route‑playing midfielders found pockets earlier, a nuance that paid off quickly.

Key Moments and Goal Timeline

At 14 minutes, Moise Kean latched onto a through ball, slipped past De Gea and tucked the ball low. The goal felt inevitable once Roma's high press forced a mis‑control by Fiorentina’s Dodo. The crowd erupted; even the most stoic Florentine fans could not hide a gasp.

Less than ten minutes later, Soulé struck again. From the left flank, he cut inside, curled a low effort that brushed the post and then found the net on the rebound. By the 22nd minute Roma were up 2‑0, and the momentum was clearly theirs.

Fiorentina clawed back at 30 minutes. A set‑piece from the right delivered a header that beat Svilar, and the Azzurri celebrated a fleeting lifeline. The goal came after a tactical shift – Fiorentina introduced Edin Džeko for Mandragora, hoping his experience would steady the midfield.

But Roma answered in the 30th minute. Cristante, who had been dropping deep to shield the defense, surged forward and lobbed a precise pass to Dovbyk, whose one‑touch finish doubled the lead. The scoreline frozen at 2‑1 for the rest of the game.

Substitutions, Injuries and Their Impact

Both coaches tinkered with their benches. In the 59th minute, Roma's Paulo Dybala replaced Dovbyk, adding a creative spark that helped maintain possession. The same minute, Lorenzo Pellegrini entered for Baldanzi, reinforcing the midfield’s pressing game.

Fiorentina, meanwhile, brought on Pietro Comuzzo for Marí at 75 minutes and later swapped Dodo for Niccolò Fortini. The changes aimed to inject fresh legs but were too little, too late.

Injury lists also shaped the contest. Fiorentina missed Tariq Lamptey, Simon Sohm and Christian Kouamé, while Roma were without Edoardo Bove, Angelino and Leon Bailey. Those absences forced both managers to adjust tactics on short notice.

But wait – the fourth official, Luca Massimi, and VAR crew including Daniele Chiffi kept the game flowing, so there were no controversial calls to mar the result.

Historical Rivalry and Statistical Context

The numbers tell a story. Before this match, Roma had won 19 of the 36 Serie A meetings with Fiorentina, while the Viola recorded 10 victories and 7 draws. This win pushes Roma’s edge to a 19‑10‑7 record – a margin that has persisted for over a decade.

Pre‑match betting markets expected a low‑scoring affair – under 2.5 goals at odds of –143, implying a 58.8 % chance. In reality, the game produced three goals, and experts later argued the true probability of under 2.5 goals was closer to 65‑70 %. The result therefore slightly exceeded market expectations, rewarding those who backed a ‘both‑teams‑to‑score’ option.

Reactions and What This Means for Serie A

Roma coach José Luis Garcia praised his side’s “early intensity” and highlighted the depth of the squad, especially the impact of substitutes Dybala and Pellegrini. He noted that the victory keeps Roma within striking distance of the top three, a crucial position after only six rounds.

Fiorentina’s manager, Vincenzo Montella, admitted the club “didn’t capitalize on chances” and warned that the injury list could force a reshuffle ahead of the next round. He emphasized the need to tighten the defense, especially against fast‑breaking sides like Roma.

Fans on social media were split – Roma supporters celebrated on Instagram with #RomaWin, while Fiorentina’s followers expressed frustration, posting clips of the missed opportunities. The match’s intensity, combined with the historic rivalry, ensured a highlight reel that will replay on sports channels all week.