Paulo Dybala converted a late penalty to send Roma into the Europa League and push Spezia towards a relegation play-off with Hellas Verona, but Tammy Abraham suffered a serious injury.
Emotions were running high at the Olimpico, as the Giallorossi needed to lock down a Europa League spot just days after losing the Final on penalties to Sevilla. Jose Mourinho sat out a touchline ban, so wasn’t even able to salute the fans properly with his future in doubt. In turn, Spezia needed a better result than Verona to avoid relegation, or could head into a play-off if they were level on points.
Rick Karsdorp, Marash Kumbulla, Daniel Maldini, Jacopo Sala, Mattia Caldara, Emil Holm and Joao Mourinho were among those out injured.
Spezia needed the victory and took the lead after six minutes when a wayward Medhi Bourabia shot turned into an assist for Dimitrios Nikolaou’s header at the back post.
Stephan El Shaarawy was unlucky not the equalise, his strike from the edge of the area clipping the crossbar, but Nicola Zalewski whipped in a cross from the left and it went past everyone, including Edoardo Bove’s attempted header, to fly into the far top corner.
Zalewski moved to the right flank for the second half and his cross was fingertipped away from Lorenzo Pellegrini ready to score at the back post.
Dybala drilled inches wide of the far post and Szymon Zurkowski missed a sitter when sent clear by M’Bala Nzola, incredibly firing over the bar.
The night was overshadowed by what looked to be a serious knee injury for Tammy Abraham, as he fell very awkwardly and had to be stretchered off in agony.
Dybala tested Zoet from distance, but El Shaarawy tried to squirm between two defenders and was brought down, resulting in a penalty and the second yellow card for Kelvin Amian. Dybala stepped up and kept his cool with a finish into the top corner.
Deep into stoppages, Mile Svilar flew to fingertip the cross away and then Dybala stung Zoet’s gloves, but this defeat and Verona’s 3-1 loss at Milan means there will be a play-off.
Roma 2-1 Spezia
Nikolaou 6 (S), Zalewski 43 (R), Dybala pen 90 (R)
Sent off: Amian 88 (S)
Player statistic
| 6' |  |
Dimitrios Nikolaou (Assist: Mehdi Bourabia) | ||
| 14' |  |
Salvatore Esposito | ||
| Nicola Zalewski (Assist: Stephan El Shaarawy) |
|
43' | ||
| Lorenzo Pellegrini | |
44' |
| 58' | |
Dimitrios Nikolaou | ||
| 66' | |
Jeroen Zoet | ||
| 76' | |
Kelvin Amian | ||
| Paulo Dybala | |
78' | ||
| 87' | |
Emmanuel Gyasi | ||
| 88' |  |
Kelvin Amian | ||
| Paulo Dybala |  |
89' | ||
| 89' | |
Ethan Ampadu | ||
| 90+7' | |
Przemyslaw Wisniewski | ||
| 90+12' | |
Eldor Shomurodov |
Match statistic
