Roma 3-4 Bologna (AET): Cambiaghi Strikes in the 111th to Down Serie A Rivals

By Wandrille P. , March 19, 2026

Tags: Europa League

UEFA Europa League 2025/26 — Round of 16, Second Leg | Stadio Olimpico | March 19, 2026 Bologna advance 5-4 on aggregate

Thursday night under the lights at the Stadio Olimpico delivered a European classic that will be talked about in Emilia-Romagna for decades. In a breathless seven-goal thriller that felt every bit like a high-stakes Serie A derby, Bologna defeated AS Roma 4-3 after extra time to advance to the quarter-finals of a major European competition for the first time in 27 years — breaking a drought stretching all the way back to their 1999 UEFA Cup run.

Match Summary

The tactical battle between Gian Piero Gasperini and Vincenzo Italiano was fascinating from the first whistle — but Roma suffered an immediate blow when Manu Koné was forced off after just 20 minutes, disrupting the midfield engine. Bologna capitalized almost immediately. Jonathan Rowe silenced the 62,000-strong crowd with a stunning strike into the top-right corner in the 22nd minute. Although Evan Ndicka temporarily restored parity with a Pellegrini-corner header, Bologna regained control before halftime when Federico Bernardeschi calmly converted a penalty after Stephan El Shaarawy clumsily fouled Nadir Zortea.

When Santiago Castro smashed home to make it 3-1 early in the second half — thanks to great persistence from Rowe, who robbed Ndicka in a dangerous area — the tie looked dead and buried. But this Roma side, driven by the Olimpico roar, refused to surrender. A lifeline arrived in the 69th minute when Remo Freuler hauled down substitute Robinio Vaz, allowing Donyell Malen to blast home from the spot. Ten minutes later, Pellegrini struck a beautiful distance shot beyond Ravaglia to make it 3-3 and force extra time.

Heading into the extra 30 minutes, Roma’s momentum looked like it might carry them through — dominating possession (61%) and the xG battle (2.03 to 1.69). But Italiano’s substitutions ultimately won the chess match. In the 111th minute, Thijs Dallinga slipped an inch-perfect pass into the path of Nicolò Cambiaghi, who fired a billiard-like finish off the inside of the near post and into the far corner. A late Roma penalty appeal was waved away, the final whistle confirmed a ruthless Italian derby victory, and Bologna marched on to face Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.

Match Statistics

Key Moments

Player Ratings

AS Roma

Starters

Mile Svilar (Goalkeeper) An exhausting 120 minutes in a match where he was constantly exposed by defensive lapses. Made 5 crucial saves to keep his team alive during Bologna’s lethal counter-attacks, but conceding four goals at home will leave a bitter taste. Heavily involved in build-up play (45 passes attempted, 30 completed), and stepped out of his box to win his only contested duel.

Gianluca Mancini (Defender) An incredibly busy night — 22 duels contested across 120 minutes, winning exactly half. Proactive on the ball (57/71 passes, 2 key passes) and aggressive in the challenge (3 dribbles from 5, 2 tackles, 1 interception). His intensity also came at a cost: 4 fouls and a yellow card. A warrior’s shift in a losing cause.

Evan Ndicka (Defender) A night of extreme highs and agonizing lows. Scored Roma’s first goal with a powerful header from a Pellegrini corner, and was a central figure in the possession game (83/96 passes, 3 tackles, 3 interceptions, 8 duels won from 12). But a critical error — robbed by Rowe in a dangerous area — directly led to Bologna’s third goal. A performance that will be defined by that one moment.

Mario Hermoso (Defender) An absolute warrior in Roma’s backline for the full 120 minutes. Emerged victorious in 11 of 19 duels, was highly reliable in distribution (77/86 passes, 1 key pass), and read the game excellently (3 tackles, 3 interceptions). His immense effort ultimately could not prevent the late heartbreak in extra time.

Zeki Çelik (Midfielder/Wing-back) A massive 109-minute shift full of running and discipline. Made a sensational last-ditch intervention early on to deny Santiago Castro a certain goal, and was combative throughout (5 duels won from 11, 3 tackles, 2 blocked shots). Solid in possession (37/47 passes, 2 dribbles from 3 completed) before picking up a yellow card for his aggressive defensive work.

Bryan Cristante (Midfielder, Captain) The undisputed workhorse of the Roma midfield — a match-high 27 physical duels contested, winning 14 across 120 grueling minutes. Dictated the tempo from deep (60/80 passes), provided a solid defensive shield (3 tackles), and committed three fouls trying to regain control. His leadership and endurance were exemplary even in defeat.

Manu Koné (Midfielder) Tragically cut short just 20 minutes in. Before his untimely injury, he was beginning to establish himself (19/20 passes, 1 duel won, 1 tackle). His early departure forced an unwanted tactical reshuffle that undoubtedly disrupted Roma’s initial game plan. A deeply frustrating end to what promised to be a big European night.

Wesley (Midfielder/Wing-back) A relentless source of energy and width for the full two hours. Highly effective defensively (4 tackles, 3 interceptions, 8 duels won from 13) and composed in possession (52/55 passes, 2 key passes, 1 dribble). Also registered a shot as he constantly looked to join the attack. One of Roma’s most consistent performers on the night.

Niccolò Pisilli (Forward) A mature and exhausting 104-minute performance on a high-pressure European night. Incredibly neat on the ball (63/81 passes), showed great fight in duels (8 won from 11), and contributed defensively with 3 tackles and an interception. Attempted 4 dribbles (1 successful) and fired one shot off target before being substituted in extra time.

Stephan El Shaarawy (Forward) A deeply frustrating 57 minutes whose primary contribution unfortunately aided the opposition. Clumsily brought down Zortea inside the penalty area to concede the spot-kick that gave Bologna a 2-1 lead. Struggled to make a positive impact (3 duels won from 8, 3 fouls) despite completing 24 of 27 passes with two key passes. Gasperini hooked him early in the second half.

Donyell Malen (Forward) A constant thorn in Bologna’s side across the full 120 minutes. Stepped up emphatically to convert the penalty that dragged Roma back into the tie. A nightmare for defenders (3 dribbles from 8 attempted, 8 duels won from 14), the most frequent shooter for Roma (4 shots, 2 on target), and the most fouled player on the pitch (5 fouls drawn). Gave everything throughout.

Substitutes

Lorenzo Pellegrini (Midfielder, on 20’) Thrust into the match early due to Koné’s injury, he delivered a monumental 100-minute performance. Scored a sensational long-range equalizer to force extra time, provided the assist for Ndicka’s goal, won 7 of 15 duels, delivered 3 key passes, and peppered the goal with 6 shots (3 on target). The standout Roma performer by some distance.

Robinio Vaz (Forward, on 57’) Immediately impacted the game by winning the penalty that Malen converted. Fought hard (4 duels won from 10) and completed 6 of 10 passes across 63 minutes on the pitch.

Neil El Aynaoui (Midfielder, on 104’) Introduced during extra time for fresh legs, completing all 8 passes and firing one shot off target in a 16-minute cameo.

Bryan Zaragoza (Forward, on 109’) A very late roll of the dice — managed 1 key pass and won 1 of 2 duels in the final 11 minutes of extra time.

Bologna

Starters

Federico Ravaglia (Goalkeeper) Subjected to a relentless Roma bombardment across 120 minutes. Made 4 critical saves from 7 shots on target to keep Bologna alive, showing great resilience throughout the chaos. Beaten three times — including a penalty and a Pellegrini wonder strike — but his crucial stops were ultimately decisive. Distribution was often direct under pressure (30/54 passes completed).

Nadir Zortea (Defender) Played a pivotal role in Bologna’s first-half success by intelligently winning the penalty off El Shaarawy. Involved in a grueling physical battle on the flank (4 duels won from 12), aggressive throughout (5 fouls, 1 yellow card), and contributed with 2 tackles and an interception. Completed 22 of 27 passes across a demanding shift.

Martin Vitík (Defender) A solid 73-minute shift before Italiano reshuffled. Dominant defensively during his time on the pitch (2 tackles, 2 blocks, 1 interception, 4 duels won from 8). Picked up a yellow card for his robust approach and completed 12 of 17 passes.

Jhon Lucumí (Defender) An absolute masterclass in defensive dominance over the full two hours. Won an astonishing 15 of 19 contested duels — a monstrous presence against a relentless Roma attack. Executed 4 tackles and 1 interception, completed 45 of 55 passes, and arguably deserved the defensive MVP award for the entire match despite picking up a yellow card.

João Mário (Defender) Brought immense experience and technical quality across 120 grueling minutes. Heavily involved in transition play (3 dribbles from 5, 1 shot on target), battled hard in duels (6 won from 15), and contributed 3 interceptions and 1 tackle defensively. Completed 34 of 46 passes with one key pass. A dependable presence throughout.

Lewis Ferguson (Midfielder, Captain) Led by example with an incredibly industrious and combative performance. Won 13 of 24 duels to continuously disrupt Roma’s rhythm, drew a match-high 6 fouls, and contributed 3 tackles and 2 interceptions defensively. Completed 46 of 53 passes. His aggression earned him a yellow card and 4 fouls committed, but his leadership was vital to the victory.

Remo Freuler (Midfielder) 114 minutes of highly tactical football, but involved in a negative turning point: his foul on Vaz inside the box allowed Roma to score the penalty that sparked their comeback. Despite this error, he worked tirelessly (14 duels, 4 won; 2 tackles, 3 blocks, 1 interception; 44/57 passes) and earned a yellow card for his combative approach.

Tommaso Pobega (Midfielder) A highly effective, destructive performance during his 90 minutes. Registered a staggering 6 tackles and 3 interceptions, constantly breaking up Roma’s passing sequences. Dominant in physical battles (8 duels won from 12) and provided one key pass despite lower passing accuracy (22/31). One of the best defensive midfield performances on the night.

Federico Bernardeschi (Forward) Made his mark by confidently dispatching the first-half penalty to give Bologna a 2-1 lead. Efficient in front of goal (both shots on target), contributed with a tackle and an interception, and won 2 of 4 duels. Completed 12 of 17 passes before being substituted in the 79th minute as Bologna looked to hold their lead.

Santiago Castro (Forward) A constant threat and scorer of a brilliant third goal early in the second half to make it 3-1. Both shots on target, one assist, one dribble completed, and 13 of 16 passes converted. Found the physical battles tough (1 duel won from 11) but his relentless movement was a constant problem for the Roma defense before his 73rd-minute substitution.

Jonathan Rowe (Forward) Arguably Bologna’s most dangerous creative outlet during his 73 minutes. Opened the scoring with a stunning top-corner strike, then provided the assist for Castro after brilliantly robbing Ndicka of the ball. Delivered a match-high 4 key passes, constantly unlocking the Roma defense. Engaged in 15 duels (4 won), made 2 tackles and 2 interceptions. A brilliant all-around display.

Substitutes

Nicolò Cambiaghi (Forward, on 73’) The ultimate hero of the night. Brought on to inject energy, he etched his name into Bologna folklore by scoring the historic 111th-minute winner with a billiard-like finish off the near post. Won 4 of 6 duels and made an incredible 4 interceptions, pressing relentlessly across his 47-minute cameo.

Thijs Dallinga (Forward, on 73’) The crucial assist man for the winner, slipping an inch-perfect pass into Cambiaghi’s path in extra time. Fought hard (5 duels won from 10) and completed 14 of 18 passes in a massive 47-minute contribution.

Nicolò Casale (Defender, on 73’) Brought on to solidify the defense, completing 12 of 18 passes and winning 1 blocked shot to help navigate the chaotic final stages of regulation and extra time.

Riccardo Orsolini (Forward, on 79’) Heavily involved in the physical battle during his 41 minutes (5 duels won from 12), getting one shot on target and completing 1 dribble.

Nikola Moro (Midfielder, on 90’) Provided calm in possession at the start of extra time — 16 of 21 passes completed, 3 duels won from 4, and 1 interception to help secure the midfield.

Torbjørn Heggem (Defender, on 111’) A final substitution to kill off the remaining seconds, winning his only duel and completing 3 passes.

Referee: Istvan Kovacs