Serie A roundup: Dybala lifts Roma into 1st, Inter bounce back from defeat

Milan, Aug 30, 2022 (AFP) - Paulo Dybala shot Roma top of Serie A on Tuesday with a brace which sank Monza 3-0, while Inter Milan are one point behind Jose Mourinho's side after their 3-1 home win over Cremonese.

Argentina forward Dybala brought up his goal century in the Italian top flight after netting twice in the first 32 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico to put unbeaten Roma on 10 points from their first four games.

Roma - who also scored just after the hour through Roger Ibanez's header from a Lorenzo Pellegrini corner - are two points ahead of third-placed AC Milan after the champions were held to a drab goalless draw at Sassuolo.

"I really wanted to get a goal, and thankfully it happened here in front of our fans, so I'm really happy," Dybala told DAZN, adding it was "too early to talk" of a title challenge.

When asked which was his favourite of his 100 goals in Italy's top flight, Dybala broke out into a wide grin and said: "The next one."

Napoli and Lazio both have the chance to draw level with Roma in Wednesday's respective fixtures against Lecce and Sampdoria, while Atalanta and Torino - also both on seven points - face off on Thursday.

Inter on Roma's heels

Dybala's goals came thanks to good work from Tammy Abraham, who sent the 28-year-old on his way to opening his Roma account in the 18th minute with a looping flick onto which his strike partner charged before rifling home.

The pair linked up again for Roma's second, this time Abraham forcing a good save from Michele Di Gregorio before Dybala showed a more aggressive side to his game by beating the Monza defenders to the ball and bundling it home.

Inter are hot on Roma's heels after bouncing back from their weekend defeat at Lazio despite having to do without star striker Romelu Lukaku.

Belgium's Lukaku will miss Saturday's Milan derby and most likely Inter's Champions League opener against Bayern Munich next week.

But Joaquin Correa tapped the hosts ahead in the 12th minute, and Nicolo Barella doubled their lead with a stunning volley seven minutes before halftime.

Substitute Lautaro Martinez drilled home his third of the season with 14 minutes remaining to make sure Cremonese - who scored late through David Okereke - stayed second-bottom and stuck on zero points.