Roma travelled to Turin this evening for a Serie A clash with Torino, looking to extend their 10-match winning run which has taken European football by surprise this season.
The Giallorossi took the lead midway through the first half through Kevin Strootman but failed to maintain their 100% record, as Alessio Cerci levelled for Torino after the break.
Rudi Garcia's side held out for a point to extend their lead at the top of Serie A to three points, with the late introduction of Adem Ljajic failing to produce a winning goal.
Look back at an entertaining match with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Evening Calcio fans. Another busy weekend in Serie A comes to a close tonight with what promises to be an intriguing clash at the Stadio Olimpico, as table-toppers Roma bid to stretch their perfect start to 11 games against Torino.
Roma have been nothing short of sensational in Serie A this season, winning their first 10 games with a potent mix of defensive stability and flair in the final third. The challenge now for Rudi Garcia's men is to see if they can sustain that exemplary form, against a Torino side who have struggled for results in recent weeks.
Garcia's men have even managed to keep winning without key players in the last fortnight, with Francesco Totti and Gervinho both sidelined through injury. The forward duo will be missing again in Turin, with the spotlight falling on the likes of Marco Borriello to provide capable cover.
Torino have a very different challenge on their hands tonight, as they aim to become only the second side to score against Roma this season. Giampiero Ventura's men are never shy in coming forward and attack with pace and numbers. Defensively there are huge question marks though, as Wednesday's 3-3 draw with Livorno showed.
Roma are acutely aware of the need to leave Turin with maximum points tonight, after watching both Juventus and Napoli earn narrow victories earlier this evening. The Giallorossi's lead has been at the top of the table has been cut to two points, with a tricky trip to Turin exactly the type of test they must negotiate to stay in the Scudetto race all season.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! We have just received word on the starting XIs from the Olimpico, which feature four changes for Roma as Michael Bradley returns in central midfield. A full look at both lineups will follow in just a few moments.
ROMA: De Sanctis; Maicon, Benatia, Burdisso, Balzaretti; De Rossi, Strootman, Bradley; Pjanic, Borriello, Florenzi
TORINO: Padelli; Darmian, Glik, Moretti, D'Ambrosio; Gazzi, Basha; Cerci, Meggiorini, Barreto, El Kaddouri
Garcia has opted to rotate for Roma's second game in three days, with Alessandro Florenzi preferred to Marquinho in a three-man attack that also features Marco Borriello and Miralem Pjanic. Nicolas Burdisso replaces Leandro Castan in his first start of the season, while Maicon is back from a ban and comes in for Dodo at full-back.
Torino meanwhile look like they have returned to Ventura's trademark 4-2-4 formation, with Alesso Cerci switching to his preferred position on the right flank. Ciro Immobile drops to the bench for the Granata, with Giuseppe Vives also missing through suspension.
Torino hosts are attempting to lift a curse against Roma that dates back to 1990, the last time they beat the Giallorossi home or away. You can make a case for Ventura's men to cause problems tonight if Cerci continues his recent hot streak, scoring seven times in 10 games this season.
PREDICTION! With both teams due out imminently there is just time for to confidently predict goals this evening, despite Roma's absurd mean streak at the back so far this season. I think Torino can make this match a special one tonight, with Cerci and Ljajic to net in a 2-2 draw.
Here we go then, with Italy hopefully saving the best till last this weekend as record-breaking Roma face Serie A's kamikaze kids in Torino. Can Garcia's side make it 11 wins on the spin? We are about to find out!
Torino get this clash underway and almost immediately concede a dangerous free kick, with Florenzi's cross finding Borriello in the box. His header is harmless though, floating well wide of the target.
Roma have quickly settled in possession as Bradley and De Rossi exchange passes in central midfield, with Torino sitting back and allowing the visitors to play. Darmian then leads a break for the visitors, which ends with Basha smashing over the top from range.
Balzaretti and Borriello combine down the left to help build a sustained spell of pressure for Roma, but De Rossi's long chip over the top fails to find a clever run inside from Pjanic.
No sign of Torini attempting to press Roma high up the pitch, perhaps Ventura has decided to copy the stubborn model which gave Chievo limited success against Roma in midweek.
Torino threaten for the first time as D'Ambrosio comes off the flank to flick forwards towards Barreto, but De Sanctis was off his line quickly to shut down any hopes of a strike at goal. A surprisingly tentative start this.
Cerci gets involved after finding Darmian's raid down the right wing, which is cut out at the expense of corner kick by Burdisso. Torino are unable to trouble De Sanctis from the corner though, with a hopeful cross nodded away by Benatia.
Borriello drops deep but is unable to collect Pjanic's latest attempt at a killer pass. The forward is consistently moving from a lead front role in search of possession, but that ploy needs midfield runners going the other way to be successful.
Balzaretti is slightly fortunate to avoid a caution for deliberate handball on the halfway line, with Torino eventually working the ball forward to Cerci. His blocked shot falls kindly for El Kaddouri, who blasts over from 20 yards.
Maicon drives down the right for Roma and leaves his marker for dead, floating a teasing cross towards Borriello at the back post. The forward is unable to make contact though, blocked off by Glik and eventually conceding a foul in frustration.
Balzaretti follows Maicon's lead with an inviting cross of his own, winning a corner kick as the ball is hooked clear. Pjanic surprises a packed penalty area by chipping to Florenzi outside the box, with his volley surging over the crossbar despite being well struck. More like it from the visitors.
YELLOW CARD! Benatia is cautioned after rushing ofrward to close down Barreto, too eager in his attempts to receive possession. The Moroccan defender will be suspended for Roma's next Serie A match, which is at home to Sassuolo next weekend.
GOAL! Torino 0-1 Roma (Strootman)
Roma break the deadlock and it's Kevin Strootman who puts the visitors ahead. His neat finish from close range was created by a slick move as Pjanic found space to drive inside the penalty area. His cutback had white shirts cueing up in the box, with Strootman darting to the near post to fire past Padelli. Garcia's men lead again!
Torino are struggling to find a response as Barreto ruins a rare chance to feed Cerci with space to drive into. The hosts have failed to get their star man involved so far tonight and now have a mountain to climb against the league leaders.
Pjanic concedes a free kick around 25 yards from goal, giving Cerci the chance to let fly from a set piece. His curling effort is dipping towards goal but just has too much power behind it, evading De Sanctis at it floats just over the crossbar.
Bradley helps Roma just take the sting out of Torino's credible response to conceding, with Benatia just taking a chance to come out and intercept D'Ambrosio's pass forward.
Cerci weaves his way past Balzaretti before standing a terrific cross up to the far post, deserving better as no Torino player manages to react. The winger then wins back possession and strikes from range in the next passage of play, forcing De Sanctis to push a low strike round the post.
Balzaretti catches Cerci after being deceived by another clever dart inside from Torino's top scorer, winning a free kick just short of the penalty area. Cerci takes but fails to connect properly, with a low strike smacked clear and leading to a swift counter from Florenzi.
HALF TIME Torino 0-1 Roma
Once again its been functional and fluid from Roma in the first 45 minutes, making their only clear-cut chance of the half count to lead. Strootman was the scorer but Torino are still very much in this match, with Cerci posing a potent threat down the right wing.
Some changes in personnel for Roma tonight but the replacements have maintained the consistent style of play which has been a revelation under Garcia. Michael Bradley has been calm and composed in central midfield, while Pjanic looks comfortable with being pushed forward forward in a new role this evening.
There is no doubt who Torino are relying on to drag them back into this match, with Cerci the danger man after coming to life towards the end of the first half. The Italy international was at fault for the Roma goal though, switching off as Balzaretti found Pjanic in the build-up.
BENCH WATCH! With Torino trailing Ventura may well ponder a change at the break, with Ciro Immobile the most likely candidate to come on and add strength in attack. Roma also have creative options waiting in the wings, with Adem Ljajic proving a particularly potent impact substitute since moving to the Eternal City.
Nearly time for both sides to return at the Stadio Olimpico, with Roma 45 minutes away from equalling Tottenham Hotspur's mark of 11 successive wins, a European best start to a league campaign dating back to the 1960. The records keep on coming for Garcia's side!
We are back underway in Turin, with Borriello almost immediately clashing with Moretti as the two tussle on the halfway line.
It doesn't take Cerci long to get involved but Roma are prepared for another raid down the right, with Bradley going across to help Balzaretti snuff out any danger. Torino need their supporting cast to step up and help the top scorer in those situations.
Benatia is playing with fire as he trips Barreto in his attempt to win the ball back in an advanced position. Torino advance and win a corner kick, but have a rather hopeful penalty appeal for handball in the box quickly waved away.
Garcia may be forced to take Benatia off at this rate as the Moroccan steams into another challenge, winning the ball but clearly taking out the man to do so. Torino soon win another corner kick but Cerci's delivery is disappointing, failing to beat the first defender at the near post.
YELLOW CARD! Bradley joins Benatia in the book after sliding in on D'Ambrosio out wide. Torino try a set piece straight from the training ground from the free kick as El Kaddouri goes short, but Florenzi reads the danger and just about manages to intercept.
SAVE! Torino's best passage of play tonight by some distance as Meggiorini comes close to equalising. His clever run caught Maicon cold as a diagonal ball looped across field, with the winger hitting a fierce volley that required De Sanctis to tip wide at full stretch. Encouraging signs for the hosts.
Ventura is furious on the touchline as play is stopped for Pjanic to receive treatment on a head injury. The Bosnian was hit full in the face by the ball after blocking Cerci's free kick, but appears to be fine as we have a short break as a precaution.
GOAL! Torino 1-1 Roma (Cerci)
Just moments after throwing caution to the wind and bringing on Immobie the hosts draw level. Cerci was the scorer from close range but Meggiorini deserves much of the credit, robbing Benatia in the box to pick out Cerci for his eight of the season at the near post. Game on!
SUBSTITUTION: Garcia reacts to conceding for only the second time this season by making an attacking change. Adem Ljajic is the player introduced shortly after Burdisso headed over for the visitors, replacing Borriello.
Roma are going to play without a recognised striker in the closing stages, with Pjanic pushed inside to occupy the false nine position. Torino are really flying and get numbers forward on another charge into the final third, with De Rossi blocking D'Ambrosio's powerful effort.
Pjanic is crowded out by two covering defenders in the penalty area after cutting inside to beat his man, with Roma starting to threaten again after a frustrating start to the second half.
SUBSTITUTION: Roma make a bold change as they swap a central defender for a winger. Benatia is the player withdrawn to remove the risk of a second yellow card, with Marquinho added to the Giallorossi's attacking options.
Torino respond with a sub of their own as Pallomo comes on for El Kaddouri, immediately taking up a position in central midfield. Torino are starting to drop deeper as Maicon goes down in the penalty area under a challenge from Morretti, with the Brazilian's appeals waved away despite some contact.
YELLOW CARD! D'Ambrosio picks up a caution after flying into a late challenge on the halfway line, but quickly gets involved for the right reasons soon after as he beats Maicon before forcing a save from De Sanctis with a low drive.
Pjanic drifts a free kick towards the far post to meet a pre-planned run from Florenzi, but he is the only Roma player driving into the penalty area as any chance of a strike at goal quickly evaporates. Time running out for Roma to earn an 11th consecutive league victory.
Garcia is barking instructions at his players as Roma look to press higher up the pitch, but Torino look relatively comfortable as D'Ambrosio and Pallomo combine to cross from the right flank.
Ljajic catches Moretti too square and goes past him, drawing a foul to win a free kick around 25 yards from goal. Ljajic takes himself and forces Padelli to save his dipping effort at the far post, with the goalkeeper moving across to make an acrobatic stop for the cameras.
YELLOW CARD! Ljajic repeats the trick to beat Basha, with the defender booked for his late lunge. Before the free kick can be taken Roma make their final change of the night, with Florenzi replaced by Dodo to add pace out wide in the final few minutes.
Torino withdraw the goalscorer Cerci as we head into four minutes of added time, bringing on Makmismovic for height and presence. Roma look the more likely at this stage as Ljajic wins a corner kick out wide, which Torino hammer away at the second time of asking.
YELLOW CARD! Maicon has been cautioned after D'Ambrosio made the most of a stray arm to win a free kick, relieving late pressure as Garcia protests the decision.
FULL TIME Torino 1-1 Roma
The winning run comes to an end at 10 matches then for Roma but they are still unbeaten, moving three points clear at the top of Serie A with a battling point at Torino. The Granata were well worth a draw and netted a deserved equaliser through Cerci, who was the star of the show once again this evening for the hosts.
That will just about do it for our live minute-by-minute commentary from Serie A then, as Roma drop points for the first time this season. Be sure to stick with Sports Mole though for comprehensive coverage on a busy weekend of football across the continent though, as we build towards Champions League action on Tuesday night. Thanks for your company.
