UEL: Roma Edge Athletic Club 2-1 in Thrilling Europa League Clash

AS Roma secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Athletic Club in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie, thanks to late winner from Eldor Shomurodov.

Eldor Shomurodov's late strike proved decisive as AS Roma edged 10-man Athletic Club 2-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie. This hard-fought victory extends Roma's unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games, with six wins and one draw.

Roma, seeking to break the head-to-head deadlock with Athletic Club after two previous draws, faced a tough challenge against their Basque opponents. Athletic started strongly, with early chances falling to Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta and Unai Gomez, but neither player could capitalize. Roma eventually mustered their first shot through Niccolo Pisilli, but his effort from just inside the box was blocked.

The first shot on target came from Artem Dovbyk, but his weak effort after a promising solo run was easily collected by Julen Agirrezabala. Roma's persistence eventually paid off, as they secured a crucial first-leg advantage ahead of the return fixture.

The first half ended goalless, with both teams creating scoring opportunities but neither able to capitalize. Paulo Dybala came closest for Roma, curling a shot past Mile Svilar, only to be denied by the woodwork.

The second half began with a bang, as Athletic Club took the lead through Inaki Williams. Aitor Paredes' loose header was smashed home by Williams, who was lurking at the back post. However, Roma responded quickly, thanks to Zeki Celik's run down the right side of the box. Celik cut the ball back for Angelino, who fired past Julen Agirrezabala to level the score.

Shomurodov wins it late for Roma 🤯#UEL pic.twitter.com/cUqtvzyB6Q

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) March 6, 2025

Athletic Club pushed hard to regain their lead, with Nico Williams and Unai Gomez both having efforts denied by Roma defenders. Despite their dominance, the visitors were unable to find the net again, and it seemed the match would end in a draw. However, Roma struck late, as Alexis Saelemaekers found Eldor Shomurodov in the box. Shomurodov quickly turned and fired a low effort past Agirrezabala, securing a crucial 2-1 victory for the hosts.

Roma's late winner gives them a significant advantage heading into the return leg in San Sebastian next week. Athletic Club now face an uphill battle to extend their European run, and they will need to produce a strong performance to overturn the deficit.