Dybala gets Roma back on track in Serie A with 5-0 rout of Parma

ROME (AP) — Paulo Dybala scored twice and set up another goal to get Roma back on track in Serie A with a comfortable 5-0 win over Parma on Sunday.

The Argentine playmaker scored an early penalty and pounced on a rebound from Alexis Saelemaekers’ initial shot early in the second half to steer Roma to just its fifth league win of the season.

Saelemaekers scored with a volley after Dybala’s opener, and Leandro Paredes added another penalty in the 74th, awarded after Saelemaekers was shouldered off the ball.

Dybala set up Artem Dovbyk to complete the scoring late.

Roma looked to have finally clicked under Claudio Ranieri, the team’s third coach of the season, when it managed back-to-back wins over Lecce and Sporting Braga in the league and Europa League. But it lost last weekend at promoted Como 2-0.

Later Sunday, Atalanta was bidding to reclaim the lead with a record-extending 11th straight league win when it hosted mid-table Empoli. before faltering Juventus was to visit Monza and seek to end a run of four straight draws.

Also, Venezia was to host Cagliari.

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Roma's Paulo Dybala celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Roma and Parma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday Dec. 22, 2024. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Roma's Paulo Dybala scores his side's opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Roma and Parma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday Dec. 22, 2024. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Parma's Woyo Coulibaly, right, takes on Roma's Paulo Dybala during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Roma and Parma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday Dec. 22, 2024. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Roma's Paulo Dybala celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Roma and Parma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday Dec. 22, 2024. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Roma's Paulo Dybala, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Roma and Parma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday Dec. 22, 2024. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Roma's Paulo Dybala, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Roma and Parma at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday Dec. 22, 2024. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

LONDON (AP) — England cricket star Ben Stokes has been left out of the squad for the Champions Trophy in February and March next year because of injury.

Stokes, England's test captain, has not played a one-day international since the 2023 World Cup but said he was open to returning to the white-ball set-up following Brendon McCullum’s appointment as head coach across all formats in September.

However, the 33-year-old Stokes suffered a recurrence of a hamstring problem during the recent test series in New Zealand and was not included in a 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Sunday.

Stokes previously missed the summer series against Sri Lanka at home and the first test of the three-match test series in Pakistan in the autumn because of hamstring issues.

Joe Root returned to the squad having been away from the international white-ball scene for more than a year and Jos Buttler was back as captain after missing the ODI team’s most recent series in the West Indies.

Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Reece Topley all missed out after failing to further their claims in the Caribbean.

Jofra Archer did enough to prove his fitness and was included, as was fellow seamer Saqib Mahmood despite limited opportunities.

The squad will play five T20 internationals and three ODIs in India from January before travelling to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Spinner Rehan Ahmed will feature in the initial T20 leg of the tour before dropping out, while Root will only link up with the squad when the ODI program begins in India.

England squad:

Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England captain Ben Stokes, right, is consoled by teammate Joe Root as he leaves the field with an injury during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England captain Ben Stokes grabs at his leg while bowling during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England captain Ben Stokes reacts as he leaves the field with an injury during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England captain Ben Stokes grabs at his leg while bowling during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)