Roma turned a goalless first half into a controlled 2-0 Serie A victory over Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 17 October 2026, with Santiago Castro and Emanuele Lulli delivering the goals that decided the seventh-round meeting.
Key takeaways
- Castro broke the deadlock five minutes after the interval, finishing from the centre of the area after a Roma corner.
- Lulli made it 2-0 in the 68th minute after Matías Soulé’s attempt had been blocked.
- Genoa’s clearest first-half moment saw Stephan El Shaarawy strike the crossbar from outside the box.
- Roma hit the woodwork through Leonardo Balerdi before half-time and created repeated chances from wide deliveries and set pieces.
- Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mario Hermoso entered just after the hour as Roma strengthened their position.
- Genoa used five substitutes, including Vítinha, Robinho Júnior and Alex Amorim, but could not find a way back into the contest.
Roma find the decisive moments after an open first half
The early exchanges offered opportunities at both ends. Genoa had a ninth-minute corner, from which Johan Vásquez headed wide after Alessandro Marcandalli’s assist, while Milutin Osmajic saw an effort blocked after Stephan El Shaarawy had also been denied. Roma responded through Matías Soulé, whose low left-footed strike was saved, and Rodrigo Mora, who later had a long-range shot blocked.
The match was briefly stopped in the 11th minute because of an injury to Roma’s Marten de Roon, before play resumed. Roma increasingly pressed their case through corners and crosses. Konstantinos Koulierakis headed over from one delivery, Niccolò Pisilli’s header was saved, and Balerdi struck the crossbar at close range following a corner taken from the left.
Roma kept testing Genoa before the break. Mora was denied with a header from Soulé’s cross, then sent another effort wide after Lulli had supplied the ball. Yet Genoa had their own warning for the home side in the 33rd minute: Osmajic had one shot blocked and another miss the target before El Shaarawy sent a powerful effort from outside the area onto the bar.
There was still no score at half-time, but Roma resumed with greater authority. Castro had an effort blocked two minutes into the second period, then converted the following corner in the 50th minute. The forward struck right-footed from the middle of the penalty area, finding the top-left corner to put Roma ahead.
Substitutions underline Roma’s control
Genoa attempted to respond through Junior Messias, who fired over from inside the right side of the box, while David Puczka also missed from a free-kick. The visitors introduced Vítinha for El Shaarawy in the 65th minute, but Roma soon added the second goal.
Roma had brought on Pellegrini and Hermoso for Mora and Koulierakis shortly after the hour. Pellegrini was involved in the move for the second goal, supplying Soulé before the Argentine’s shot was blocked. Lulli then reacted first, finishing from close range on the right in the 68th minute.
With the lead secure, Roma continued to make changes. Wesley replaced Lulli, while Daniele Ghilardi and Alessandro Di Nunzio came on late for Devyne Rensch and Pisilli. Genoa answered with Robinho Júnior and Alex Amorim for Messias and Morten Frendrup.
The visitors did create one late opening when Samuel Wiafe set up Osmajic, whose low right-footed effort was saved. Roma nevertheless remained threatening: Hermoso had a header blocked, Castro saw another effort repelled after a Soulé pass, and Ndicka headed wide in stoppage time from a Soulé corner.
Soulé and Pisilli were booked for dangerous play, while Genoa’s Vásquez, Østigård and Ellertsson also received yellow cards. The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 Roma win, built on a second-half response after Genoa had competed strongly and twice gone close before the interval.
