UEL: All square in Bologna-Roma tie

The UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie between Bologna and AS Roma ended in a 1-1 draw as Lorenzo Pellegrini cancelled out Federico Bernardeschi’s curler.

 In a match that both rattled the woodwork, the Europa League Round of 16 winner will be decided in the second leg at Stadio Olimpico.

The Serie A has no other representative in the UEFA Champions League, and they will have one representative in the quarter finals of the Europa League, as one will progress from the all-Italian derby.

 Giant Piero Gasperini couldn’t call on Gianluca Mancini due to suspension. The centre-back got an opportunity for rest after leaving the last game injured.  Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala, Matias Soulé, Artem Dovbyk, and Evan Ferguson are on the treatment table, while Mario Hermoso is not at 100 percent fit but still played some part in the game.

Roma had finished in an automatic qualification spot while Bologna finished eighth in the league phase.

They eliminated SK Brann in the play-offs and went on to record five straight wins before suffering a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Verona at the weekend. 

They were without Torbjorn Heggem and Charalampos Lykogiannis as they were carrying knocks.

Federico Bernardeschi failed to get on the end of a Jonathan Rowe through ball in the opening 90 seconds, while Juan Miranda was booked for a foul on Bryan Zaragoza, earning a suspension for the second leg next week.

Zaragoza, from a promising position, scuffed the angled drive wide, and Mile Svilar was called into action when he made a save from Bernardeschi’s pull-back.

The Roma goalkeeper made another fantastic save to fingertip the Bernardeschi left-foot curler out from under the bar.

Nicolò Casale and Tommaso Pobega, from the corner to close out half-time, failed to steer their headers on target at the back post.

Substitute Robinio Vaz made an immediate impact when he got Joao Mario booked for stopping a counter-attack.

However, Bologna broke the deadlock through Bernadeschi from 13 yards after receiving a loose ball from Jonathan Rowe, who had ridden two tackles. The former Juventus midfielder has now scored four goals in the competition this season.

After controlling a Devyne Rensch pass, Doyen Malen clipped the outside of the near post from a tricky angle.

Bernardeschi almost created a second goal for the Rossoblu when he sent Pobega clear on goal, only for Svilar to sprint off his line for a decisive block.

Roma then restored parity, punishing the hosts for a howler from Joao Mario, who failed to control a loose ball and was robbed by Bryan Cristante.  

Malen shrugged off Jhon Lucumi and Remo Freuler to roll across for Lorenzo Pellegrini to prod into the empty net from seven yards.

Roma nearly turned it around when Malen’s finish took a double deflection off Casale and Lucumi to bounce off the base of the upright.

Bologna almost regained their lead when they rattled the frame of the goal at the 89th minute from Martin Vitik’s header from Lykogiannis free kick, thumping the crossbar.