BSP-26 Roma reeling after Chievo stalemate before Real Madrid trip

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Roma reeling after Chievo stalemate before Real Madrid trip

MILAN, Sept 16, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Roma threw away a two-goal lead as
tailenders Chievo snatched a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday to
dent morale before a daunting midweek trip to Champions League holders Real
Madrid.

Stephan El Shaarawy and Bryan Cristante put Roma, who lost to AC Milan
before the international break, firmly in command by the half-time interval.

But Chievo, beaten 6-1 by Fiorentina last time out and deducted three
points by the Italian football federation for false accounting, battled back
in the second half.

Valter Birsa pulled a goal back after 52 minutes with Polish striker
Mariusz Stepinski sealing a point for the club from Verona seven minutes from
time.

“This was a game we had under control, we should have closed it down. This
can’t happen against Real,” Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco told broadcaster
DAZN.

“In games like this you have to score four goals. This didn’t happen, and
it kept Chievo alive.”

The Roma coach added: “We’ll be going out to challenge Real Madrid on
Wednesday. We mustn’t lose our heads, even if these results destabilise us.”

Roma are now seventh with five points from four games — four points
behind champions Juventus, who host Sassuolo later Sunday hoping Cristiano
Ronaldo can finally break his club scoring duck.

Chievo are propping up the table on -1 points after their deduction during
the week.

“We’re on the right path,” said Chievo coach Lorenzo D’Anna.

“We feared it would be a repeat of the Fiorentina game, but instead we
kept our composure.

“We even came close to winning in the end.”

Last season’s Serie A runners-up Napoli got back to winning ways on
Saturday with Lorenzo Insigne scoring the only goal against Fiorentina ahead
of next week’s Champions League trip to Red Star Belgrade.

Inter Milan’s woes were compounded with a shock 1-0 defeat to Parma ahead
of their European opener against Tottenham in the San Siro.

In the Stadio Olimpico, Italy winger El Shaarawy got Di Francesco’s side
off the mark after ten minutes with a volley off Alessandro Florenzi’s
precise freekick.

On-loan Atalanta midfielder Cristante then turned in his first goal for
Roma after half an hour, from distance, after good work from Edin Dzeko.

Stepinski and Birsa both headed over before the break as Chievo dug deep.

Slovenian Birsa found a way through with a curling effort seven minutes
after the break, with Stepinski breaking through the tired Roman defence.

Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen did well to clear a final Emanuele Giaccherini
effort to secure a point for the capital side.

BSS/AFP/BZC/2035HRS