Lorenzo Pellegrini got here off the bench to earn Roma a 1-1 draw with Bologna to make sure the all-Italian Europa League last-16 tie is finely poised.
Federico Bernardeschi put Bologna forward early within the second half, however Gian Piero Gasperini’s aspect fought again to degree at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
Bryan Zaragoza fizzed a low shot throughout purpose and vast of the left put up after a pacy counter-attack, however Bologna completed the primary half on high.
Bernardeschi noticed a low cross parried away by Mile Svilar on the close to put up earlier than chopping inside shortly after to check the goalkeeper, who was at full stretch to maintain out the ahead’s roller.
And Bernardeschi broke the impasse within the fiftieth minute. He was unmarked on the best of the field and bent his effort into the far aspect of the purpose.
Donyell Malen then struck the woodwork earlier than Tommaso Pobega spurned an excellent probability to double Bologna’s lead, as he took too lengthy over a one-on-one with Svilar.
Roma made Pobega pay for his profligacy, with Pellegrini in the best place to information his end right into a vacant web underneath no strain.
Malen noticed an opportunity cleared off the road as Roma chased a comeback victory, however on the different finish, they have been saved by the crossbar, with Martin Vitik’s header simply too excessive.
Triplice fischio al Dall’Ara
Al vantaggio di Bernardeschi, ha risposto Pellegrini #BolognaRoma #UEL pic.twitter.com/9KvQcfJy6v
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) March 12, 2026
Elsewhere, Panathinaikos maintain a 1-0 lead over Actual Betis because of a late Vicente Taborda penalty as each side completed with 10 males.
And Porto even have a first-leg lead, with Terem Moffi and Rodrigo Mora’s quickfire first-half targets giving them a 2-1 benefit in opposition to Stuttgart.
Knowledge Debrief: Pellegrini turns the tide
Roma had their possibilities on both aspect of Bologna’s opener, but it surely took a composed end from Pellegrini to maintain them on degree phrases heading to Stadio Olimpico subsequent week.
Regardless of solely having one shot, he recorded the best particular person anticipated targets (xG) tally on the pitch of 0.67, whereas he additionally created two possibilities in his influential 25-minute cameo.
Bologna, nevertheless, have solely misplaced considered one of their final seven conferences with Roma in all competitions (W3 D3), whereas they’re unbeaten of their final 10 Europa League matches (W6 D4).
