Roma’s Europa League campaign suffered a setback as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Swedish side Elfsborg. The match, played in Sweden, was decided by a Michael Baidoo penalty, leaving Roma struggling in their group.
Despite recent success in Serie A under new coach Ivan Juric, Roma failed to replicate their domestic form on the European stage. The Giallorossi, missing key players like Paulo Dybala, Enzo Le Fee, and Alexis Saelemaekers, struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the match.
Elfsborg started brightly, forcing Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar into early saves. The decisive moment came when VAR intervened, spotting a handball by Tommaso Baldanzi in the build-up to an Elfsborg attack. Baidoo confidently converted the resulting penalty, giving the hosts a lead they would not relinquish.
Roma’s best opportunity came late in the game when captain Lorenzo Pellegrini’s powerful strike rattled the crossbar. However, this moment of quality was an exception in an otherwise lackluster offensive display from the Italian side.
The defeat leaves Roma in a precarious position in their Europa League group, with pressure mounting for improved performances in their upcoming fixtures. Coach Juric will need to address the team’s lack of creativity and finishing in European competitions if they hope to progress in the tournament.
Goals: Baidoo pen 44 (E)
Elfsborg (3-4-3): Pettersson; Ibrahim, Henriksson, Yegbe; Hedlund, B.Zeneli, Ouma, Hult; A.Zeneli (dal 62′ Abdullai), Baidoo (dall’85’ Frick), Qasem.
Roma (3-4-3): Svilar; Celik, N’Dicka, Hermoso; Abdulhamid (dal 65′ El Shaarawy), Pisilli (dall’85’ Cristante), Paredes, Angelino; Soulè (dal 65′ Dybala), Shomurodov (dal 65′ Dovbyk), Baldanzi (dal 72′ Pellegrini).
