Roma secured their spot in the Europa League playoffs with a solid 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt at the Stadio Olimpico. It was a straightforward night for Claudio Ranieri’s side, who controlled the match and sealed the win through goals from Angelino and substitute Shomurodov. The Uzbek forward found the net after a brilliant assist from Soulé, further cementing his resurgence. The Giallorossi will now wait for the draw to determine whether they will face Ferencvaros or Porto in the playoff round. If they advance, a high-stakes Roman derby against Lazio could be on the horizon.
Beyond the result, several individual performances stood out. Angelino scored his first goal for Roma and continues to flourish under Ranieri’s guidance. Dybala orchestrated the midfield with his trademark finesse, setting the tempo for his teammates.
Meanwhile, Lazio suffered a 1-0 loss away to Braga in their final group-stage match, but the result did not impact their position at the top of the standings. With 19 points in eight games, Lazio secured a direct spot in the Round of 16, marking a strong European campaign.
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The Biancocelesti faced significant adversity, with 10 players unavailable due to injuries, suspensions, and UEFA squad exclusions. Coach Marco Baroni was forced to deploy defender Gila as a makeshift midfielder, a role the Spaniard handled commendably despite the circumstances. Braga struck early with a goal from Horta in the 6th minute, but Lazio regained control of possession, albeit without creating clear-cut chances. Pedro was among the standout performers, nearly scoring with a well-placed free kick and providing leadership in midfield.
Lazio now awaits the knockout draw, where they could be paired with Roma, Ferencvaros, Viktoria Plzen, or Porto. If the draw plays out accordingly, the city of Rome could witness a European derby with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
