In a great game, Bologna eliminated Roma and qualified for the quarterfinals in the Europa League
Rome fell 4-3 to Bologna in it Olympic Stadiumby the second leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League 2025/26. After equality in the 90 minutes and on aggregate (4-4), the visiting team won with an agonizing goal in extra time to leave the key 5-4 and reached the quarterfinals.
In an intense start, La Loba came out determined to impose conditions and generated the first situations through Pisilli and Hermoso, although without effectiveness in the final meters. The home team pressed high, but found a well-established rival defense.
As the minutes passed, the game became more frictional, with several fouls in the middle of the field that interrupted the rhythm. And when it seemed that the local team had control, the impact came. Jonathan Rowe took a great shot from outside the area and made it 1-0 for Bologna in the 22nd minute.
But the answer did not take long to arrive. First Lorenzo Pellegrini took a free kick that hit the post. After a cross from Pellegrini, Ndicka won from the heights and scored a header to equalize the actions in the Olímpic.
When the local team was a little better, one of the controversies arrived. El Shaarawy fouled Zortea in the area and referee Istvan Kovacs awarded a penalty. Then from the twelve steps, Bernardeschi changed it for a goal to make it 2-1 and go into the break ahead.
At the start of the second half, Gasperini’s team went straight to find the tie. Donyell Malen tried with a shot from outside the area and Ravaglia responded.
Then, 58 minutes into the complementJon Rowe put pressure on Cristante and on the rebound he put Evan Ndicka to sleep. So after the rebound Castro showed up with everything and scored a tremendous shot to make the visiting team 3-1.
But that wouldn’t be all, At 69 the referee awarded another penaltyin this case in favor of the local. Malen took charge and made it 2-3 to leave the capital team alive with 20 minutes left in the match.
The visit made several changes to give fresh air to the team, but Rome had an immediate response. At 80 minutes, Pellegrini received a ball in the crescent of the area, settled in and took a left-footed shot from the corner to make it 3-3 and give more emotions to a true great game.
In the final minutes La Loba went all out, but was unable to arrive clearly. While Bologna had a very clear situation with Remo Freuler, but Svilar saved the local team. Thus, with equality in the match and overall, the key went to overtime.
In extra time, Cambiaghi scored a great goal for Bologna to qualify
Already in extra time, Roma was the first to warn. Robinio Vaz, who entered in a good way in the second half and the visit created problems for him. Then, Çelik took a tremendous shot from distance, but Ravaglia sent the ball into the corner to maintain equality.
In the rest of the first extra time the teams showed little and had a hard time creating danger in the areas. Already in the second extra time, the visitor scored a great goal. Cambiaghi created a tremendous wall with Dallinga, who returned it and after the goalkeeper came out, scored at the near post to make it 4-3 in a true great game. Then Svilar saved Gasperini’s team from ending the match with a good save.
Then, in the final minutes, there was tension in the Olympic Stadium. Roma did what they could and Bologna tried to make the minutes pass. Finally and with suffering, the visitor was left with a spectacular match to get into the quarterfinals.
