Europa League | Nice 1-2 Roma: Defenders get the goals for victory

Roma got off to a strong Europa League start with their 2-1 victory away to OGC Nice thanks to goals from defenders Evan N’Dicka and Gianluca Mancini.

The Giallorossi had won three of their four games under new coach Gian Piero Gasperini, falling only 1-0 to Torino, including Sunday’s Derby della Capitale. Paulo Dybala and Leon Bailey were still out of action, with Mario Hermoso and Wesley not at 100 per cent, plus Jan Ziolkowski suspended. Former Sassuolo and Atalanta winger Jeremie Boga started for Nice, who were missing Tanguy Ndombélé, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Moise Bombito and Youssouf Ndayishimiye.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Antoine Mendy fired over and then was decisive at the other end, charging down the Stephan El Shaarawy strike, while Manu Koné saw his effort deflected over the bar.

Gianluca Mancini had a huge double chance on 38 minutes, as first his pull-back from the right for Artem Dovbyk was over-hit, then the Kostas Tsimikas cross came back to him for a header into the net at the back post, but he was offside.

Lorenzo Pellegrini, fresh from scoring the winner against Lazio at the weekend, was introduced for the second half.

Nice started the half well, Evan N’Dicka throwing himself in the way of the Hicham Boudaoui shot from six yards, while Pellegrini’s header was plucked out of the air.

Pellegrini made an immediate impact, as his corner found the head of N’Dicka at the near post to give Roma the lead at the Allianz Riviera.

Evan Ndicka heads home to give Roma the lead against Nice

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The second arrived moments later, as Tsimikas marked his full debut with a cross from the left for Mancini to surprise on the forward run, placing a well-taken volley into the net from 10 yards with the inside of the right boot. It was the first time this season that Roma had scored two goals in a single game.

Gianluca Mancini fires home to double the lead for Roma

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Matias Soulé fired straight at the goalkeeper, but Nicolò Pisilli gave away a penalty when wrestling Mendy to the ground as they sprinted down the Nice right flank. Terem Moffi converted with a skip and a jump to blow the game wide open.

They held on and start the Europa League campaign with a win under Gian Piero Gasperini.

Nice 1-2 Roma

N’Dicka 52 (R), Mancini 55 (R), Moffi pen 77 (N)