I have to admit, I've seen more entertaining games of football than the first half at the Vicente Calderon. One for the purists. 

But I've been heartened by the fact that one of my colleagues is not only working furiously away at the other end of the office, he's also playing football manager on his phone. Not sure how that works but it looks like his team have just scored. 

Hopefully we'll get goals in the second half too! 

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Respect. Dzeko had just missed the biggest sitter when another chance comes his way and this time he buries it.

Controlling a cross on his chest, the big striker then hammers home a left-foot half-volley.

It's his second goal in as many Serie A games, having not scored since November.

Atletico's Filpe Luis wins another free-kick on the left. It's delivered deep but Alphonse Areola comes out well to punch clear. That's it for the half.

One of the great misses.

Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko has a side-foot tap-in inside the six-yard box but somehow he screws the ball wide via his heel.

He leans his head against a post when doubtless wishing the ground would open up. 

Atletico win a free-kick deep on the right, but it's headed clear again. The loudest cheers are for when the home fans think their side has been fouled. Mario Gaspar fires over at the other end, and we have one minute of stoppage time. 

As soon as I say that Juanfran serves up another delightful cross and Antoine Griezmann glides into the box but the ball grazes off his head. It got the crowd going, though. 

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Antoine Griezmann tries a one-two on the edge of the box which gets intercepted but Koke picks up the loose ball and fires goalwards from about 25 yards on the angle. It's ambitious and hits the side netting. This game has lost its early verve. 

More probing from Atletico but again the cross is not accurate and gives Fernando Torres has little chance with that sort of service. Mario Gaspar is back on for the visitors. 

Villarreal right-back Mario Gaspar comes off second best in a 50-50 challenge and is off getting treatment. Denis Suarez is warming up on the sidelines. 

Villarreal left-back Eric Bailly gets himself into trouble deep in his own half out towards the wing. Antoine Griezmann passes along the edge of the box and it falls to Saul Niguez, whose curling shot is easily gathered by Alphonse Areola. 

So far Francesco Totti is the central figure at the Stadio Olimpico this evening, even though he's not playing.

The one-club man has made just five Serie A appearances this season, which doesn't go down well in these parts.

Image source, EPA

Image source, AFP

Nice attack this for Atletico. Antoine Griezmann, who has such lovely balance, clips the ball out to the right with the outside of his left boot, as Juanfran delivers an early cross towards Fernando Torres but it's just too high for the centre-forward. Soon after Griezmann has an effort which is blocked on the edge of the box. The corner is cleared. 

And the corner almost gives us a goal. It's driven low across the box, and dummied at the near post before Daniele Bonera fires over the top as he twisted to shoot. Wasn't by much, though. 

A quarter of an hour gone and not surprisingly Roma have dominated possession as they look for a fifth straight win.

But they are yet to test Palermo's teenage keeper in a quiet start.

Roberto Soldado is not happy as Juanfran is the latest Atletico to perform a slide tackle. Villarreal win a free-kick but the former Tottenham striker wants more. Soon after the visitors win a corner. 

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Decent counter attack chance for Villarreal but Stefan Savic is across to slide and snuff out the danger. Diego Simeone loves that sort of stuff and applauds wildly. 

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Antoine Griezmann, supposedly courted by Chelsea, get a chance to bear down on goal on the left side of the penalty area for Atletico, but his touch lets him down. Fernando Torres very much playing a lone striker role tonight with Griezmann stationed out wide. 

First effort towards goal by Villarreal, I say towards rather than at goal, because Antonio Rukavina's shot was way high despite making a nice overlap run down the right.