Boasting a recent track record of going the distance in Europe, after reaching two UEFA finals in as many years, Roma’s aim of making this season’s Europa League decider in Dublin is very much alive following events at San Siro last Thursday.
Having won the inaugural Europa Conference League in 2022, before being edged out by Sevilla in UEFA’s second-tier competition 12 months later, the Giallorossi became battle-hardened under former coach Jose Mourinho, and they channelled his spirit to leave Milan with an advantage.
Scorer of the lone goal in the Derby della Capitale just days earlier, Gianluca Mancini headed home in the 17th minute to put Roma ahead, before helping to keep their Serie A rivals at bay until the final whistle.
After finally recording a first win over Milan in 10 meetings throughout the 2020s, the capital club had lost just twice in 16 matches since returning hero Daniele De Rossi took over in January, and speculation persists that he could extend his stay beyond the end of this season.
Occupying fifth place in the Serie A standings, Roma are targeting Champions League football for next term – as things stand in UEFA’s rankings, a top-five finish would be enough to achieve that goal – but they could alternatively secure a spot in the expanded competition by winning this year’s Europa League.
Such ambitions took a back seat on Sunday, though, as their league clash with Udinese was abandoned when Evan Ndicka collapsed in the 72nd minute and was taken off on a stretcher – the conclusion to that fixture will be scheduled in the coming days.
Now on the road to recovery, Ndicka will watch from the sidelines as his teammates try to finish the job against Milan and then tackle fourth-placed Bologna next Monday.
