Tammy Abraham breaks Gabriel Batistuta record as Roma run riot on rivals Lazio in derby
TAMMY ABRAHAM smashed a record set by Gabriel Batistuta as he helped Roma thrash bitter rivals Lazio 3-0.
The England striker has already made himself a hero to the Giallorossi since his arrival from Chelsea last summer.
Now he has further cemented his status as a fan favourite as his early double helped claim the bragging rights in the Rome derby.
And, incredibly, those two strikes were enough for him to surpass a tally set by the club’s legendary former Argentinian hitman Batistuta.
The icon and Vicenzo Montella both previously held the record for the most goals scored in a debut season for Roma, each registering 21.
Now the 24-year-old has surpassed that tally as he moved on to 23 for the campaign.
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Abraham opened the scoring in the Serie A clash at the Stadio Olimpico inside the first minute.
And he did not have to wait too long for his second.
That arrived on 22 minutes as Roma threatened to run away with it.
Lorenzo Pellegrini unleashed a pearler to make it three before the break but Abraham failed to add to his and Roma’s tally.
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His big moment to claim the matchball arrived on 67 minutes.
But the towering frontman fired wide after controlling the ball in his stride.
Not that it mattered much as his double moved his team above their neighbours Lazio and into fifth spot in Serie A.