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Belotti scored after 34 games but Roma couldn't win against Salernitana
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 20.08.23. | 20:54
The game finished 2-2 and both Belotti and Cadreva scored a brace
Andrea Belotti signed last season for Roma as a free agent from Torino. Something similar to Paolo Dybala, he expected to be sought after, but he ended up in the Eternal city. He signed a one year contract with an option for another two and everybody thought it was a great deal. But when Roma extended his contract a year later, everybody was shocked. Why? In the meantime, Belotti failed to score in 34 consecutive Serie A matches, which is stunning for a striker. He only found the net in the Europa League (three) and in the Italian Cup (one goal) and yet, Roma extened his contract until 2025.
Belotti makes it brace to equalize late in the game, Paredes grabs an assist on his first game back at the Olimpico.pic.twitter.com/iA6HeDfsM7
— IM🇵🇹 (@Iconic_Mourinho) August 20, 2023
And this gamble paid off – Belotti scored in the first game of the season. In fact, he scored two and even saved his team from an embarrasing defeat, as Roma only drew 2-2 at home against relegation candidate Salernitana. Giallorossi were missing their main player Paolo Dybala as well as Lorenzo Pellegrini, while striker Tammy Abraham is the long term absentee. Coach Jose Mourinho and his assistant manager Salvatore Foti were both suspended for the first 10 days of the Serie A season as a result of insults aimed at referee Daniele Chiffi after their game with Monza on May 3. So, Roma legend and current director Bruno Conti had to be on the bench after 18 years. And he oversaw a good Roma game, but failed to see the victory. It was the 36 year old former Juventus, Inter and Lazio player Antonio Cadreva who, just like Belotti, scored a brace and turned the game over from 1-0 to 1-2 in just 13 minutes.
1 - Andrea Belotti has scored his first #SerieA goal for AS Roma, finding the net in the competition for the first time since May 2022 (for Torino vs Empoli) and ending a streak of 34 consecutive league matches without goals. Liberation.#RomaSalernitana pic.twitter.com/MTNUKsgDhd
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) August 20, 2023
Roma was better in this match and the first goal was actually scored (by Belotti again) in the 9th minute, but VAR overruled it due to offside. The former Torino striker scored again but then veteran Cadreva scored two goals at the end of the first and at the beginning of the second half and turned the game around. Roma pushed harder and harder but the guests managed to hold on until the 82nd minute, when new player Paredes assisted to Belotti, who prevented a uncomfortable defeat on the first day of the season.
SERIE A - MATCHDAY 1
Saturday
Empoli - Hellas Verona 0-1 (0-0)
/Bonazzoli 75/
Frosinone - Napoli 1-3 (1-2)
/Harroui 7 pen - Politano 24, Osimhen 42, 79/
Genoa - Fiorentina 1-4 (0-3)
/Biraschi 58 - Biraghi 5, Bonaventura 11, Gonzalez 40, Mandragora 56/
Inter - Monza 2-0 (1-0)
/Lautaro 8, 76/
Sunday
Sassuolo - Atalanta 0-2 (0-0)
/ Charles De Ketelaere 83, Zortea 90+3/
Roma - Salernitana 2-2 (1-1)
/Belotti 17, 82 - Cadreva 36, 49/
21.45: (4.50) Udinese (3.60) Juventus (1.90)
21.45: (3.80) Lecce (3.35) Lazio (2.15)
Monday
19.30: (1.70) Torino (3.70) Cagliari (6.00)
21.45: (4.00) Bologna (3.50) Milan (2.05)
***odds are subject to change
