The first chapter of an all-Italian battle in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 ended without a winner. Bologna and AS Roma played out a tense 1–1 draw, exchanging goals and striking the woodwork as the race for a place in the quarter-finals remains wide open ahead of the return leg in the capital.

Bologna started the match with greater intensity and looked the sharper side during long spells of the first half. Mile Svilar had to come to AS Roma’s rescue late in the opening period, producing an excellent save to deny a curling effort from Federico Bernardeschi.

The pressure from the hosts eventually paid off after the break. Rowe surged through the centre before releasing the ball to the right flank. From there, Federico Bernardeschi delivered a stunning first-time strike that flew into the far top corner, giving Bologna a deserved lead.

AS Roma, however, responded thanks to a costly defensive mistake from Joao Mario. Bryan Cristante intercepted the loose ball in midfield, Donyell Malen powered his way past the defenders and squared a perfect pass across the box for Lorenzo Pellegrini, who simply tapped into an empty net.

The closing stages produced drama at both ends. Donyell Malen came close to completing the turnaround for AS Roma, only to see his effort crash against the post. Moments later, Martin Vitik rose highest for Bologna, but his header struck the crossbar.

The hosts pushed hard in stoppage time, launching one final wave of attacks, yet Mile Svilar and the AS Roma defence held firm. The 1–1 draw leaves everything to play for, with the decisive second leg set to unfold in Rome.

2025-26, Europa League

Bologna - AS Roma 1:1 (0:0)
Goals: Bernardeschi, 50 (1:0); Pellegrini Lo., 71 (1:1)

Bologna: Skorupski; Casale (Vitík, 84); João Mário Neto (Zortea, 85); Lucumí; Juan Miranda (Lykogiannis, 79); Pobega; Freuler; Ferguson L.; Castro S. (Dallinga, 79); Bernardeschi; Rowe J. (Cambiaghi, 71)
Substitution: Cambiaghi (from 71); Lykogiannis (from 79); Dallinga (from 79); Vitík (from 84); Zortea (from 85)
Bench: Ravaglia F.; Heggem; Moro N.; Sohm S.; Domínguez B.; Orsolini; Odgaard
Yellow Cards: Juan Miranda 13; João Mário Neto 47; Casale 57

AS Roma: Svilar; Rensch (Tsimikas, 58); Ndicka; Çelik (Hermoso, 65); Wesley; Ghilardi; Cristante; El Aynaoui (Pellegrini Lo., 66); Pisilli; Zaragoza Br. (Vaz R-o, 46); Malen
Substitution: Vaz R-o (from 46); Tsimikas (from 58); Hermoso (from 65); Pellegrini Lo. (from 66)
Bench: Gollini; Ziolkowski; Koné M.; El Shaarawy
Yellow Cards: Wesley 15; Cristante 67