Roma qualify for the Europa League last 16 despite playing over 75 minutes with ten men after Mancini’s red card in Athens.
Roma secured direct qualification for the Europa League round of 16 with a hard-fought 1–1 draw away to Panathinaikos, surviving a difficult night in Athens thanks to a late header from Ziolkowski. Reduced to ten men early in the match, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side showed resilience and character to avoid the playoff round and book their place among the competition’s final 16.
The match turned complicated almost immediately for Roma. After a bright opening spell in which the Giallorossi created chances through Tsimikas, Pellegrini and Ziolkowski, everything changed in the 15th minute. Gianluca Mancini was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul on Pantovic, leaving Roma a man down for the vast majority of the contest.
The dismissal shifted momentum in favor of Panathinaikos, who grew in confidence and came close to scoring before halftime when Katris struck the crossbar with a powerful long-range effort. Roma, already dealing with squad issues, were forced into a more conservative approach to reach the break level at 0–0.
In the second half, Roma initially held firm and even threatened with a spectacular right-footed volley from Celik that drifted just wide. However, the breakthrough came for the hosts in the 57th minute. A defensive misjudgment by Ghilardi gifted possession to Taborda, who rounded debutant goalkeeper Gollini and calmly finished to make it 1–0.
With no natural striker available—Dybala was left out due to knee discomfort and Pellegrini had been deployed as a makeshift forward—Gasperini reshuffled his side, pushing Rensch higher up the pitch and handing a debut to 2006-born Della Rocca.
Roma’s persistence was finally rewarded in the 80th minute. From a wide delivery, Ziolkowski rose highest in the box and powered home a decisive header, silencing the Athens crowd and sending Roma directly into the round of 16. Panathinaikos, meanwhile, will have to settle for the playoff round.
Match Report: Panathinaikos 1–1 Roma
Scorers:
57’ Taborda (Panathinaikos), 80’ Ziolkowski (Roma)
Panathinaikos (3-4-3):
Lafont; Palmer-Brown, Ingason, Touba (Skarlatidis 72’); Katris, Bakasetas, Siopis (Renato Sanches 59’), Kyriakopoulos; Taborda (Terzis 90+3’), Pantovic, Zaroury.
Head coach: Rafa Benítez.
Roma (3-4-2-1):
Gollini; Mancini, Ziolkowski, Ghilardi; Celik (Rensch 64’), Pisilli, Cristante (Wesley 64’), Tsimikas (Angeliño 88’); Soulé (Ndicka 46’), El Aynaoui; Pellegrini (Della Rocca 67’).
Head coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Martínez (Spain)
Yellow cards: Siopis (Panathinaikos); Ghilardi, Pisilli (Roma)
Red cards: 15’ Mancini (Roma)
