Mueez Ajao
– Roma were able to protect the first leg lead and resist pressure at the Anoeta, including a Mikel Oyarzabal double chance, to eliminate Real Sociedad and reach the Europa League quarter-finals.
– The Giallorossi won the first leg 2-0 and came to the Anoeta with almost a full squad, missing only Diego Llorente and Nemanja Matic, as Lorenzo Pellegrini was able to start with a protective helmet after needing 30 stitches for a clash of heads with Igor Zubeldia and Roger Ibanez returned from suspension. The hosts were still without Aritz Elustondo and ex-Roma striker Umar Sadiq, but opted for Mikel Oyarzabal, David Silva and Alexander Sorloth upfront.
– Paulo Dybala saw his strike deflected off Sorloth to wrong-foot the goalkeeper and go inches wide, but there was yet another nasty head injury for Roma after 39 minutes.
Also Read: Red-hot Roma punish sloppy Sociedad
– Diego Rico was booked for jumping into Rick Karsdorp, who was forced off looking dazed and very bloody with potentially a broken nose. The Dutchman was caught in the face by Rico’s shoulder rather than an arm or elbow, so it was not a red card.
– Roma thought they had scored on the stroke of half-time when Chris Smalling bundled a Dybala corner kick over the line from close range, but the expression on his face was a precursor to the VAR call – it came off his arm.
– Sorloth really should’ve given Real Sociedad the lead at the dawn of the second half, but incredibly turned a free header off target from nine yards when left criminally unmarked.
– Real Sociedad had an extraordinary double chance on 68 minutes as a corner found Oyarzabal, first forcing a desperate Rui Patricio save from point-blank range, then firing the rebound onto the crossbar.
– Zubeldia’s powerful header was off target from a corner and Roma continued to hold out under pressure through seven minutes of stoppages.
– Carlos Fernandez was sent off for a second bookable offence after his off the ball row with Smalling.
