Lorenzo Pellegrini’s well-worked early goal was cancelled out by Ademola Lookman, but Roma can be pleased with a 1-1 away draw to Leicester City in the first leg of the Conference League semi-final.
VAR technology was brought in for the semi-finals and Final of the Conference League, with the second leg set for the Stadio Olimpico on May 5. Away goals no longer count double in Europe this season, so whoever wins in the Capital will go through.
Liveblog: Conference League semi-final Leicester City vs. Roma
Boubakary Soumare and Jamie Vardy were available after injuries, with Wilfred Ndidi and Ryan Bertrand out of action. The Giallorossi started Nicolò Zaniolo after his quarter-final hat-trick against Bodo/Glimt. Leicester dropped into this competition from the Europa League, where they finished third behind Spartak Moscow and Napoli.
After an initial flurry of Leicester pressing, Roma settled and took the lead. Nicola Zalewski cut inside from the left and timed his through ball perfectly to release Lorenzo Pellegrini, nutmegging Kasper Schmeichel at the near post.
Ex-Atalanta player Timothy Castagne went off injured, while Chris Smalling charged down from Ademola Lookman after Tammy Abraham gave it away cheaply and the same striker stung Rui Patricio’s gloves from the edge of the box.
After the restart, Lookman threatened again, his free header over the bar from six yards on a corner.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan went off with a thigh injury and Leicester did finally make one of their many attacks count, with substitute Barnes getting down the left and flashing across the six-yard box, where a combination of Lookman and Gianluca Mancini bundled over the line.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s header was off target after good work from James Maddison, then his curler was fingertipped round the post by Rui Patricio after Bryan Cristante was caught napping.
Roma also threatened moments later, Sergio Oliveira forcing a great save at the near top corner from Schmeichel after Abraham’s back-heel flick.
Leicester City 1-1 Roma
Pellegrini 15 (R), Lookman 67 (L)
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Ricardo Pereira, Fofana, J Evans, Castagne (Justin 21); Maddison, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall; Albrighton (Barnes 62), Vardy (Iheanacho 62), Lookman (Perez 83)
Roma: Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Karsdorp, Mkhitaryan (Veretout 57), Cristante, Zalewski (Vina 85); Zaniolo (Sergio Oliveira 69), Pellegrini (Afena-Gyan 85); Abraham
Ref: Del Cerro Grande (ESP)