Solid and clinical Roma shine in Nice, while Bologna fall narrowly to Aston Villa but show promise in the second half. Both Italian sides could be in for a long run…
The opening matchday of the Europa League group stage, spread across Wednesday and Thursday, ended with a perfectly balanced outcome for the Italian clubs: one win and one defeat.
Roma earned an authoritative and efficient victory away at Nice, while Bologna were narrowly beaten in Birmingham by Aston Villa — though they showed encouraging signs, especially after the break. Two tough road games, two performances that leave room for optimism about their European campaigns.
In Nice, Gian Piero Gasperini’s Giallorossi showed maturity and composure. After a cagey and uneventful first half, the turning point came in the second half with the introduction of Lorenzo Pellegrini. The former Roma captain — stripped of the armband and placed on the transfer list over the summer — is experiencing a positive moment, following his decisive goal in the Derby della Capitale. That strike may have been the catalyst to get him back on track.
Bologna’s evening, however, followed a very different script. They faced arguably the toughest test of the opening round, playing away to the competition’s favorites. The atmosphere at Villa Park was electric, and Aston Villa started at full throttle, taking the lead in the 13th minute through McGinn. Only a superb performance from Skorupski prevented Bologna from going further behind, as the goalkeeper even denied Watkins from the penalty spot in the second half.
As the match progressed, Vincenzo Italiano’s side grew into the game and came close to equalizing in the closing stages. First, Castro rattled the crossbar from an Orsolini cross, and then, deep into stoppage time, Vitik was denied by a brilliant save from Bizot.
If well-begun is half-done, both Italian clubs have shown they can go far in a tournament that, for the first time in years, doesn’t feature any of Europe’s traditional heavyweights — not even a struggling giant like Manchester United in recent seasons.
In Europe, tradition always matters, and Roma boast one of the strongest recent pedigrees in this competition. Over the past decade, they’ve built an impressive résumé: a Conference League title, a Champions League semifinal, and two Europa League semifinals along with a final.
At Soccer Made in Italy, we’ll be following every step of the journey for the Italian clubs competing in Europe, bringing you every match, every emotion, and every pivotal moment of this long continental season. Because Italian football is a story to experience — and to share.
L’articolo Europa League: A Mixed Start — Roma Win in France, Bologna Unlucky in Birmingham proviene da Soccer Made In Italy.
