AS Roma is suddenly back on track for Europe due to a late goal and news from Turin


Monday, May 22, 2023 at 9:02 PM• Tom Rofekamp • Last update: 21:27

AS Roma is suddenly back on track for ‘regular’ European qualification. seemed long i Giallorossi Monday on the way to a disgrace against Salernitana, until Nemanja Matic saved a point in the final phase: 2-2. As a result, but especially because of Juventus’ points penalty, Roma rises to sixth place in the Serie A ranking, which is good for the Conference League play-offs. Even fourth place (good for Champions League qualification) is still in sight.

With Georginio Wijnaldum in the base, the Europa League finalist hoped for an easy victory against Italy’s number fifteen. However, that was by no means the case. After eleven minutes, Salernitana midfielder Lassana Coulibaly launched a great through ball towards Antonio Candreva, who whipped the ball over Rui Patrício in one movement: 0-1. Roma needed until after the break to find an answer.

Three minutes after tea, Stephan El Shaarawy was exactly in the right place to redeem a rebound on a free kick from Lorenzo Pellegrini: 1-1. Moments before, the VAR had already drawn a line due to hands due to a hit by Ibañez. All that meant that it was still 1-1, which Roma was far from enough. Only a win would secure fifth place, which is good for the Europa League group stage.

Boulaye Dia’s 1-2 in minute 57 put Roma in even more murky waters in that regard. After good preparatory work by Krzysztof Piatek, the Salernitana striker was able to work in from close range with difficulty. Roma seemed to have nothing to say about that for a long time, until Matic asserted itself. The tall Serbian rammed in just before time after a corner kick that had been turned off. Minutes after the 2-2, it was announced that Juventus had to hand in ten points due to financial malpractices. As a result, it drops the old lady to one point below Roma. José Mourinho and his selection thus have a chance of direct Champions League qualification even via the competition route. That can also be achieved if Roma wins the Europa League final on May 31.

No. Team m W G v +/- Pnt
1 Naples 36 27 5 4 47 86
2 Lazio 36 20 8 8 27 68
3 Internazionale 36 21 3 12 27 66
4 AC Milan 36 18 10 8 18 64
5 Atlanta 36 18 7 11 16 61
6 AS Roma 36 17 9 10 12 60
7 Juventus 36 21 6 9 23 59
8 Monza 36 14 10 12 0 52
9 bologna 36 13 11 12 3 50
10 Torino 36 13 11 12 -2 50
11 Florence 36 13 11 12 7 50
12 Udinese 36 11 13 12 1 46
13 Sassuolo 36 12 8 16 -12 44
14 Empoli 36 10 12 14 -10 42
15 Salernitana 36 8 15 13 -13 39
16 Lecce 36 7 12 17 -13 33
17 Spezia 36 6 13 17 -26 31
18 Hellas Verona 36 7 9 20 -26 30
19 Cremonese 36 4 12 20 -34 24
20 Sampdoria 36 3 9 24 -45 18