Champions League return sealed on final day

Champions League secured

Roma are back in the Champions League. A 2–0 win away to Hellas Verona on the final day sealed third place and ended a seven-year wait for Europe's top competition. Paulo Dybala ran the show with two assists, and Donyell Malen got on the scoresheet despite missing a penalty. Gasperini called it an "incredible achievement" after what he described as a difficult campaign. (1) (3) (6) (12)

Malen: goal, penalty miss, World Cup bid

Donyell Malen delivered a mixed-but-decisive performance at the Bentegodi. He scored Roma's opener but also saw a penalty saved. The Dutch winger is pushing for a World Cup spot under Ronald Koeman, and this kind of big-moment contribution won't hurt his case. (2) (3)

Dybala runs the show

Two assists on the night. Dybala was, in the words of Mundo Deportivo, "stellar" as he led Roma back to the Champions League. On a night when everything was on the line, your number 21 delivered. (6)

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Gasperini: 'Drinks on me'

Gian Piero Gasperini was in high spirits after the final whistle. "Now a stronger Roma," he said, before joking: "I'll pay for drinks for everyone." He'd earlier expressed hope that the Friedkin ownership would become more present moving forward. For now, the mood is pure celebration. (4) (5)

Dressing room scenes

Tears from Stephan El Shaarawy. A pointed message from Lorenzo Pellegrini. Music blasting courtesy of Pierluigi Gollini. And Gianluca Mancini, well, let's just say the Corriere dello Sport reported he showed plenty of character. The celebrations inside the away dressing room were everything you'd expect after a night like that. (8)

Como join the party, Milan and Juve miss out

Roma weren't the only story on a wild final day. Como snatched the remaining Champions League spot, leaving both AC Milan and Juventus in the Europa League. Napoli also saw Antonio Conte walk away, capping off a genuinely unhinged finish to the Serie A season. (6) (12)

Fan-reaktioner

The mood is pure joy. Fans are calling it the perfect season: Champions League qualification, Lazio finishing midtable, and silverware too, with the Roma Women completing a domestic double by winning the Coppa Italia Femminile. One supporter summed it up with five green ticks, while tributes poured in for Stephan El Shaarawy, described by one fan as giving "one last gift." See the discussion on r/ASRoma

Sources

  • 1. rtl.nl — Malen leidt AS Roma naar de Champions League
  • 2. ansa.it — Serie A: Sorpresa Champions, con la Roma c'è il Como, fuori Milan e Juve
  • 3. nu.nl — Scorende Donyell Malen helpt AS Roma aan CL-ticket ondanks gemiste penalty
  • 4. sabah.com.tr — Roma, UEFA Şampiyonlar Ligi biletini aldı!
  • 5. corrieredellosport.it — Gasperini al settimo cielo: "Ora una Roma più forte". E poi scherza: "Pago da bere a tutti"
  • 6. mundodeportivo.com — Un estelar Dybala lidera el retorno de la Roma a la Champions
  • 8. corrieredellosport.it — Le lacrime di El Shaarawy, la stoccata di Pellegrini, la musica di Gollini, gli attributi di Mancini e le urla: cosa è successo negli spogliatoi della Roma
  • 12. 101greatgoals.com — European round-up: Como and Roma snatch final Champions League spots in Serie A
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