Roma were able to protect the first leg lead and resist pressure at the Anoeta, including a Mikel Oyarzabal double chance, to eliminate Real Sociedad and reach the Europa League quarter-finals.
The Giallorossi won the first leg 2-0 and came to the Anoeta with almost a full squad, missing only Diego Llorente and Nemanja Matic, as Lorenzo Pellegrini was able to start with a protective helmet after needing 30 stitches for a clash of heads with Igor Zubeldia and Roger Ibanez returned from suspension. The hosts were still without Aritz Elustondo and ex-Roma striker Umar Sadiq, but opted for Mikel Oyarzabal, David Silva and Alexander Sorloth upfront.
Paulo Dybala saw his strike deflected off Sorloth to wrong-foot the goalkeeper and go inches wide, but there was yet another nasty head injury for Roma after 39 minutes.
Diego Rico was booked for jumping into Rick Karsdorp, who was forced off looking dazed and very bloody with potentially a broken nose. The Dutchman was caught in the face by Rico’s shoulder rather than an arm or elbow, so it was not a red card.
Roma thought they had scored on the stroke of half-time when Chris Smalling bundled a Dybala corner kick over the line from close range, but the expression on his face was a precursor to the VAR call – it came off his arm.
Sorloth really should’ve given Real Sociedad the lead at the dawn of the second half, but incredibly turned a free header off target from nine yards when left criminally unmarked.
Real Sociedad had an extraordinary double chance on 68 minutes as a corner found Oyarzabal, first forcing a desperate Rui Patricio save from point-blank range, then firing the rebound onto the crossbar.
Zubeldia’s powerful header was off target from a corner and Roma continued to hold out under pressure through seven minutes of stoppages.
Carlos Fernandez was sent off for a second bookable offence after his off the ball row with Smalling.
Real Sociedad 0-0 Roma (0-2 agg)
Sent off: Carlos Fernandez 97 (RS)
Player statistic
| 6' |  |
Rick Karsdorp | ||
| Igor Zubeldia | |
13' | ||
| 17' | |
Gianluca Mancini | ||
| Diego Rico | |
39' |
| Carlos Fernández | |
88' | ||
| Carlos Fernández |  |
90+8' | ||
| 90+8' | |
Chris Smalling |
Match statistic
well played, ground out result. Real Sozzidad were outrageous, they should’ve had another 2 men sent off! Elbows, shoulders and head butts, haven’t seen the like since the early 90s!