Roma rally past Genoa 2-0 to stay in Scudetto hunt after Real heartbreak

Gasperini's kids answer the call

Roma bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in style, beating Genoa 2-0 to climb to second and stay within two points of Inter at the top of Serie A.

La Gazzetta dello Sport celebrated "Castro and Lulli, Roma marvels" as Gian Piero Gasperini's youngsters delivered. The Argentine Castro "does Malen's job" — a nod to the injured Donyell Malen — while Tuttosport proclaimed "Castro does a Totti" for his match-winning influence. Lulli, a 19-year-old wing-back, marked his intervention with his first Serie A goal, a moment La Gazzetta called "worth a lot."

Corriere dello Sport noted the immediate redemption: "Immediate redemption after defeat against Real." Roma, the paper added, "switch on after the break and Genoa concede." There was also a Serie A debut for Robinho Jr as Gasperini's side tend to their wounds and rise to second.