Europa League: Roma survive upset as Dybala double enough for next phase

Paulo Dybala sends Roma into the Europa League last 16 with his fantastic brace in four minutes, seeing off 10-man FC Porto despite an acrobatic Samu strike.

The Giallorossi will now face either Lazio or Athletic Club Bilbao in the next phase, with the draw on Friday.

The tie was wide open following a controversial 1-1 first-leg result, which saw Bryan Cristante sent off and, therefore, suspended here along with Alexis Saelemaekers. 

Artem Dovbyk was a late injury absentee, with Lucas Gourna-Douath and Anass Salah-Eddine not on the UEFA list, but Dybala returned from a knock, and Mats Hummels was benched again. 

Porto missed Marko Grujic, Vasco Sousa, and Martim Fernandes but were unbeaten since new coach Martin Anselmi took over on January 27.

From the blast of the whistle, the game began with both sides desperate to be in the front.

Lorenzo Pellegrini and Eldor Shomurodov’s headers were off-target in the opening minutes, but Roma gifted the opening goal to Porto.

Mile Svilar’s misplaced pass out from the back to Leandro Paredes sparked the attack; the Pepê effort was charged down until the acrobatic Samu overhead kick from 10 yards.

Roma replied with Dybala completing a quick give-and-go with Shomurodov, keeping his cool to dink the finish past the goalkeeper off the outside of the left boot from six yards, making it his first Europa League goal of this campaign.

Dybala took matters into his own hands and completed the turnaround within four minutes, this time combining with Manu Kone to break down the right, and while everyone assumed he would go for the far post, he surprised the goalkeeper by firing into the near bottom corner with the left foot.

There was almost a third Roma goal moments later, as Dybala floated the free kick to the back post for Gianluca Mancini’s header, forcing a tough save, then Otavio twice stopped Evan N’Dicka bundling the rebound over the 

Soon, at the start of the second half, the visitors were down to 10 men as Stephen Eustaquio was caught on camera punching Paredes on the chest in a reaction foul. Following the VAR On-Field Review, 

Paredes was booked and will be suspended, but Eustaquio was shown a straight red card for the clear intent of the gesture with a balled fist.

Even down to 10 men, Porto were dangerous when Samu surprised N’Dicka on a long Diogo Costa ball and hit the upright as he came sliding in.

Roma finally made the tie safe when Dybala floated a ball to send Angelino down the left, the pull-back met by substitute Niccolò Pisilli with the inside of the right boot from seven yards.

With the game practically over, substitute Devyne Rensch made a mess of trying to anticipate his striker on the ball rolled across from the right and prodded it into his own net.

Draws for the Round of 16 will take place on Friday, February 21, 2025.