Federico Fazio acknowledged that AC Milan's opening goal changed the contest, as Roma fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

Patrick Cutrone scored three minutes into the second half to give the Rossoneri the advantage - a moment that Fazio thought changed the course of the game, considering Milan had not created a clear-cut opportunity prior to that.

Davide Calabria scored with 15 minutes remaining to confirm the result.

"I think that we played well in the first half today, we moved the ball around well but we lacked a cutting edge in front of goal," Fazio said. "They scored with the first chance they had and the team were affected by that.

"After the first goal it became a tough match. We need to look forward and battle right up until the end. Next week we have a very important game, one where we need to have real self-belief if we want to win."

The Giallorossi now face important league meetings against Napoli and Torino, before Shakhtar Donetsk come to Rome for the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie.

"If we think that we are in a bad spell things won't get better," he said. "We have to believe in ourselves, be positive, work hard and battle right up until the final game.

"We have to work hard; I know the ability of this squad and we are focused on finishing in third spot."