Roma’s Europa League campaign is in crisis after a 1-0 defeat away to Elfsborg, decided by a Michael Baidoo penalty, as Lorenzo Pellegrini’s best chance hit the bar.
The Giallorossi won both Serie A games under new coach Ivan Juric, but were held 1-1 by Athletic Club in the Europa League. Paulo Dybala was still not fully fit, with Enzo Le Fee and Alexis Saelemaekers injured, but Saud Abdelhamid received his first start. Swedish side Elfsborg lost 3-2 away to AZ Alkmaar with Sebastian Holmen sent off and therefore suspended here.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
It was a bright start from the Swedes, as Mile Svilar had to make the save first on a Besfort Zeneli counter-attack down the right, then on the Henriksson free header from the resulting corner.
Matias Soulé hesitated when receiving the pass from Tommaso Baldanzi on a rapid counter-attack and the move fell apart.
Baldanzi also saw a bicycle-kick charged down and Soulé blasted a couple of attempts not too far off target.
Svilar got down for a sensational one-handed save on the Zeneli volley from 14 yards, but VAR showed that in the build-up, Baldanzi had instinctively moved his arm towards the ball. Michael Baidoo converted the penalty and gave Elfsborg the lead.
Timothy Ouma used his face to charge down another Baldanzi attempt and Angelino volleyed well over after the restart.
Although Roma saw significantly more of the ball in the second half, they did precious little with it, Baldanzi’s volley deflected wide off Niklas Hult.
Ivan Juric threw on his star names and it allowed them to shift a gear, as Nicolò Pisilli had two attempts charged down in the same move and Lorenzo Pellegrini fired over.
Artem Dovbyk protected the ball with his back to goal for Pellegrini to hit the side-netting from a tricky angle. The Italy international came even closer on 83 minutes when his ferocious strike thumped the crossbar, but Roma ultimately did not do enough to warrant a point here.
Elfsborg 1-0 Roma
Baidoo pen 44 (E)
Player statistic
| Ahmed Qasem |  |
35' | ||
| Michael Baidoo |  |
44' |
| Niklas Hult | |
52' | ||
| Arbër Zeneli | |
60' | ||
| 90+5' | |
Paulo Dybala |
Match statistic
Haha Roma all signings are flops they will never progress with this team and manager
Absolutely dire from Roma, clueless from the coach, doesn’t play his strongest team and paid for his arrogance. Won’t get far with this coach. Running around like headless chickens getting nowhere, no composure and no idea how to break down a defence. Biggest mistake replacing Mourinho.
When someone says that replacing Mourinho is a mistake it is crystal clear that that person knows absolutely nothing about football. Hiring Mourinho was a mistake, not sacking him. In today’s football Mourinho has absolutely nothing to offer.