Roma set Serie A record

Roma became the first team to win their opening 10 Italian Serie A games of the season when they overcame bottom side Chievo 1-0 thanks to Marco Boriello’s header.

The defiant visitors defended resolutely and physically for more than an hour and looked capable of denying Roma the record until striker Boriello broke the deadlock in the 67th minute.

Roma, under new coach Rudi Garcia who took over at the start of the season, have 30 points, five clear of Juventus and Napoli with more than a quarter of the campaign completed.

Chievo have taken only four points from 10 games but made life unexpectedly difficult and frustrating for the hosts.

They packed their defence, harried Roma in midfield and stood over the ball at free kicks to stop them being taken quickly.

Roma, who have conceded only one goal all season, were missing talismanic striker Francesco Totti and Ivorian forward Gervinho and they struggled to make chances against the wall of yellow shirts.

Tempers flared several times until the home side finally broke through when Alessandro Florenzi ran on to to Miralem Pjanic’s pass, weaved his way through a crowded area and chipped the ball up for Boriello to head in at the near post.

Chievo could have equalised when Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis failed to hold Luca Rigoni’s long-range effort but Alberto Paloschi was offside as he closed in for the rebound.

Garcia has transformed Roma from the erratic, bickering outfit who limped home in sixth place last term and lost to arch-rivals Lazio in the Coppa Italia final.

They will try for an 11th consecutive win when they visit Torino in their next match on Sunday.

In Spain, Atletico Madrid kept pace with leaders Barcelona and restored their five-point lead over third-placed city rivals Real when Diego Costa and David Villa each scored a penalty in a 2-1 win at Granada on Thursday.

Atletico have won 10 of their 11 games this season, a record only bettered by unbeaten champions Barca, and their only setback was this month’s 1-0 defeat at Espanyol.

They have 30 points in second place, with Barca, who won 3-0 at Celta Vigo on Tuesday, on 31 and Real, 7-3 winners at home to Sevilla on Wednesday, on 25.