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ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Santiago Castro of Bologna celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on March 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Roma came back repeatedly to force the tie to extra time after a 3-3 thriller at the Stadio Olimpico, but Bologna will face Aston Villa in the Europa League quarter-final.
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The first leg ended 1-1, so it was all to play for in this Italian derby for the chance to face Aston Villa in the quarter-final. Paulo Dybala, Matias Soulé, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson were still out injured, with Lorenzo Venturino not on the UEFA list, after just two draws in four competitive games. Lukasz Skorupski picked up an injury in the win at Sassuolo, so Federico Ravaglia took the Rossoblu gloves. The Stadio Olimpico is a special venue for Bologna, as they won the Coppa Italia here last season.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Santiago Castro went on a rapid counter-attack for the finish deflected wide by Zeki Celik, but Roma were forced into an early change when Manu Koné hobbled off the field with a muscular issue.
Moments later, Bologna took the lead when Jonathan Rowe smashed a ferocious effort into the roof of the net from the edge of the area, but Roma complained that the England striker had pushed Gianluca Mancini in the build-up, creating that gap through the centre of their defence.
Svilar got down for a one-handed save on Federico Bernardeschi’s angled drive, but after Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free kick smacked against the top of the upright, it was scrambled out for a corner.
From this set play, Evan Ndicka rose in the crowd to nod in Roma’s equaliser from six yards.
Malen just failed to connect with a Mancini glancing header at the back post, while Svilar parried a Joao Mario attempt after a corner.
On the stroke of half-time, Stephan El Shaarawy bundled into the back of Nadir Zortea and the referee pointed to the spot. Bernardeschi sent Svilar the wrong way to convert and restore Bologna’s advantage.
Malen tested Ravaglia from the edge of the box after the restart, but it was Bologna who added another goal. Rowe chased down a bouncing ball, battling first with Bryan Cristante and then Ndicka to knock it down for Castro to smash a screamer into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.
Roma were also awarded a penalty when Remo Freuler pressured Robinio Vaz, so Malen passed it precisely into the bottom corner past Ravaglia’s fingertips.
Moments later, Ravaglia did get to the Pellegrini free kick at the near top corner, but was beaten when Vaz pulled back to the edge of the area where Pellegrini passed it into the far bottom corner with the inside of the left foot to draw it all level again.
Freuler’s weak finish was smothered by Svilar, while Wesley fired over on the half-volley, but they could not be separated and the tie went to extra time.
Ravaglia immediately flew to palm a Zeki Celik scorcher out from under the bar, while Pellegrini had to track back to stop Riccardo Orsolini going clear.
Bologna again went in front when Nicolò Cambiaghi completed a give and go with Thijs Dallinga to break into the box and drew out Svilar, his snooker shot of a finish going in off the inside of the near post to roll across the line.
Roma 3-4 Bologna aet (4-5 agg)
Rowe 22 (B), Ndicka 32 (R), Bernardeschi pen 45+2 (B), Castro 58 (B), Malen pen 69 (R), Pellegrini 80 (R), Cambiaghi 111 (B)
19-03-2026 20:00
1/8 Final
Stadio OlimpicoROMBGN
0
1
Live3 – 4
Player statistic
| 22' | Jonathan Rowe(Assist: Santiago Castro) |
| 26' | Martin Vitik |
| Evan Ndicka(Assist: Lorenzo Pellegrini) | 32' |
| 45+2' | Federico Bernardeschi |
| Zeki Celik | 55' |
| 58' | Santiago Castro(Assist: Jonathan Rowe) |
| Donyell Malen | 69' |
| 71' | Nadir Zortea |
| 76' | Jhon Lucumí |
| Lorenzo Pellegrini | 80' |
| 108' | Remo Freuler |
| 111' | Nicolò Cambiaghi(Assist: Thijs Dallinga) |
| 116' | Lewis Ferguson |
ROM
BGN
Starting lineups
99
Mile Svilar
Goalkeeper
5
Evan Ndicka
Defender
23
Gianluca Mancini
Defender
22
Mario Hermoso
Defender
43
Wesley
Defender
19
Zeki Celik
Defender
109′
4
Bryan Cristante
Midfielder
17
Manu Koné
Midfielder
20′
61
Niccolò Pisilli
Midfielder
104′
Donyell Malen
Attacker
92
Stephan El Shaarawy
Attacker
57′
13
Federico Ravaglia
Goalkeeper
26
Jhon Lucumí
Defender
João Mário
Defender
41
Martin Vitik
Defender
73′
20
Nadir Zortea
Defender
11
Jonathan Rowe
Midfielder
73′
19
Lewis Ferguson
Midfielder
8
Remo Freuler
Midfielder
114′
4
Tommaso Pobega
Midfielder
91′
10
Federico Bernardeschi
Attacker
79′
9
Santiago Castro
Attacker
73′
Substitutes
95
Pierluigi Gollini
Goalkeeper
12
Konstantinos Tsimikas
Defender
2
Devyne Rensch
Defender
87
Daniele Ghilardi
Defender
24
Jan Ziolkowski
Defender
70
Giorgio De Marzi
Goalkeeper
8
Neil El Aynaoui
Midfielder
104′
Bryan Zaragoza
Attacker
109′
7
Lorenzo Pellegrini
Midfielder
20′
Robinio Vaz
Attacker
57′
22
Charalampos Lykogiannis
Defender
Simon Sohm
Midfielder
21
Jens Odgaard
Attacker
30
Benja Domínguez
Attacker
25
Massimo Pessina
Goalkeeper
82
Matteo Franceschelli
Goalkeeper
14
Torbjørn Heggem
Defender
114′
16
Nicolò Casale
Defender
73′
28
Nicolò Cambiaghi
Attacker
73′
24
Thijs Dallinga
Attacker
73′
7
Riccardo Orsolini
Attacker
79′
6
Nikola Moro
Midfielder
91′
