Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala scored goals as Roma defeated Empoli 7-0 to earn their first victory in Serie A this year.
The Giallorossi, who started the game in the relegation zone, eventually won by a big margin at home, matching the highest margin of victory in a Serie A game played in the present.
Lukaku, who joined the team this summer on loan from Chelsea, scored his first goal for the team with a cool finish.
As a result, Jose Mourinho’s team moved up to 12th place from 18th.
First-half goals from a Dybala penalty, Renato Sanches’ header, and Alberto Grassi’s own goal gave the home team a comfortable lead.
After the half, Argentina’s Dybala added a fine fourth goal and hit the crossbar with a free kick before Bryan Cristante scored a long-range goal.
After that, Lukaku added the sixth, and Gianluca Mancini scored with a goal to seal the victory.
With only one point from their first three games with their form being hampered by injuries to players like Chris Smalling, Houssem Aouar, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Tammy Abraham, manager Jose Mourinho and his team had come under fire.
Internationals Lukaku from Belgium and Sanches from Portugal each scored their first goal for the Europa League champions from last season. Sanches was acquired from Paris St-Germain in August.
Sardar Azmoun, a striker from Iran, replaced Lukaku late in the game and made his club debut as well.
The outcome equals the eight prior 7-0 victories clubs have achieved in Serie A since the league’s introduction of three points for a victory in 1994.
One of these occurred in November 2006 at the Stadio Olimpico when Roma crushed Catania under the direction of current Italy manager Luciano Spalletti.
Since Juventus thrashed Inter Milan 9-1 at home in April 1961, no Italian team has won by more than seven goals, although Roma was guilty for an equally lopsided thrashing when they humiliated Napoli 8-0 two years earlier.
Roma also defeated Cremonese 9-0 at home in October 1929, but Torino’s 10-0 victory over Alessandria in May 1948 still holds the top-flight record.
Mourinho was in charge when Real Madrid defeated Almeria 8-1 at home in May 2011. Prior to the game, he had emphasized Roma’s potential but lamented their absences.
