Scorers: Montella 10 (R), Della Rocca 62 (B)


Ex-Roma boss Carlo Mazzone earned an important point at the Stadio Olimpico as the Giallorossi are held to their second consecutive stalemate.

Mazzone returned to the Capital hoping to extend Bologna's seven-match unbeaten run, the last three of which were victories. The injury crisis continued with Tomas Locatelli, Fabio Petruzzi , Mourad Meghni and Claudio Bellucci out of action. Roma had to reshuffle their defence due to Matteo Ferrari's ban, while teenage goalkeeper Carlo Zotti was again preferred to Ivan Pelizzoli.

Olivier Dacourt curled an early effort just over the crossbar, but the deadlock was broken by Capocannoniere Vincenzo Montella. He sprung the offside trap on Antonio Cassano's pass, left Gianluca Pagliuca stranded with a dummy and then placed his finish between Gamberini and the post for a delightful solo effort.

Bologna had a golden opportunity to draw level on 23 minutes when Della Rocca sprung the offside trap and intelligently lobbed Zotti as the 'keeper ran out to the edge of the box, but the ball bounced in front of goal and over the bar of an empty net.

Dacourt was booked and will be suspended for next week's crunch match with Inter.

Cassano was on fine form and set up another great chance for Montella, but Gamberini closed him down.

Mazzone's men were furious in first half stoppages when they saw penalty appeals for a Philippe Mexes handling offence waved away.

There was a splendid team move at the start of the second half, as Totti's backheel found Cassano and Montella just failed to get on the end of his cross as Pagliuca threw himself at the ball.

Totti rattled the frame of the goal with a stunning free kick from 30 metres away, but Roma were made to pay for these errors.

The defence was torn apart on 62 minutes as Marco Ferrante's wayward volley went past Mexes and straight into the path of young striker Luigi Della Rocca for a sliding finish from seven yards.

Cassano again set up Montella, but the top scorer's chip was off target, then Totti's acrobatic volley was over the bar.

Daniele De Rossi had two golden opportunities in stoppages, with an effort from distance and a close-range shot that was straight at Pagliuca.

Montella hit the back of the net with the last kick of the game by nodding in a free kick, but the goal was disallowed for a De Rossi push in the area. Cassano had to be held back from insulting the referee as he left the field surrounded by Roma players.

Roma: Zotti; Dellas, Mexes, Scurto, Panucci (Mancini 68); De Rossi, Dacourt (Aquilani 76), Cufre (Perrotta 73); Montella, Totti, Cassano

Bologna: Pagliuca; Daino, Juarez, Nastase, Gamberini; Sussi, Zagorakis, Giunti (Loviso 77), Colucci; Della Rocca (Binotto 83), Ferrante (Capuano 72)

Ref: Dattilo