Garcia tenure begins with win

Rudi Garcia's career as Roma coach began with a convincing Serie A victory at newly promoted Livorno.

Rudi Garcia's career as Roma coach began with a convincing Serie A victory at newly promoted Livorno. The French tactician, who left Lille in the summer, watched existing Giallorossi regulars secure all three points at the Stadio Armando Picchi as Alessandro Florenzi followed up Daniele De Rossi's half-volleyed thunderbolt. It was a third league goal against the Tuscans for Italy midfielder De Rossi, as he brought his 25-game domestic goalscoring drought to an end to kickstart Roma's season. Florenzi was first to threaten for the capital club, controlling the ball in the area but seeing Francesco Bardi block both of his attempts on goal. Maicon burst past two Livorno defenders and into the box on 17 minutes, with Bardi saving the day with a firm punched save that inspired applause from the home crowd. Still Roma kept coming, and Francesco Totti was at the heart of a move that saw Miralem Pjanic try his luck with a volley that clattered off the wrong side of a post. That irked the veteran Totti and moments later he rattled Bardi's crossbar with a fearsome shot from distance. Livorno finally got forward in the minutes leading up to the break, and after Paulinho's run had been shut down by Leandro Castan, Andrea Luci drove a tame shot at Morgan de Sanctis. Florenzi inspired a feeling of deja vu in Bardi as play resumed, the young Italy midfielder beating the offside trap to test Chievo's keeper with two quick efforts. He came even closer in the 64th minute, his angled shot beating Bardi but not the frame of the goal, before De Rossi broke the deadlock in sensational fashion. The midfield general picked his spot from the edge of the area and arrowed an unstoppable drive beyond Bardi. Two minutes later, Roma doubled their advantage. It was Florenzi who got his reward for a dynamic display, cutting the ball past Bardi with his left boot when Castan found him dashing into the box. And as Livorno scrambled to stop the rot ahead of the final 10 minutes, Maicon ended a fine jinking run with a promising right-footed strike that just shaved Bardi's crossbar.