Roma beat Sassuolo to close in on Serie A leaders Inter

Rome: Roma moved three points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Saturday after a hard fought 2 0 win over Sassuolo in Rome. Down to the bare bo...

Rome: Roma moved three points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Saturday after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Sassuolo in Rome.

Down to the bare bones due to a clutch of injuries and players away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Roma moved into third thanks to quickfire late goals from Manu Kone and Matias Soule which broke Sassuolo's brave resistance.

Roma's French midfielder #17 Manu Kone celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Italian Serie A football match between As Roma and Sassuolo at the Olympic stadium in Rome on January 10, 2026. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

Kone thumped home the opener with his head from Soule's pinpoint cross in the 77th minute to spark delirium in the Stadio Olimpico.

And fans were sure of the three points for their team two minutes later when Soule calmly rolled home Stephan El Shaarawy's delicate flick at the end of a flowing passing move.