AS Roma 3-0 Braga: Giallorossi see off 10-man visitors to boost playoff hopes
In his third tenure as manager of AS Roma, Claudio Ranieri guided the Giallorossi to their second victory in a somewhat inconsistent UEFA Europa League (UEL) campaign, triumphing over SC Braga with a score of 3-0. This victory marked the team's 11th win in their last 14 home matches within the competition.
Aiming for consecutive wins for the first time since April, Roma began the match energetically at the Stadio Olimpico, taking the lead in the 10th minute.
Evan Ndicka delivered a precise long ball to Nicola Zalewski, who advanced down the left flank and set up Lorenzo Pellegrini, allowing him to score his first goal of the season from the edge of the penalty area.
This goal marked the seventh occasion in Braga's last nine matches where the first goal was scored before the 20th minute. Had it not been for the crossbar, the Giallorossi could have extended their lead shortly thereafter, as Pellegrini's free header hit the woodwork.
Braga, fresh off an impressive 3-0 victory against TSG Hoffenheim in their previous European match, seemed to have lost their momentum, with Roma asserting control. Pellegrini narrowly missed with a deflected shot, and Matheus made a strong save against another deflected attempt from Pellegrini.
While the home supporters may have felt a tinge of disappointment at only holding a one-goal lead at halftime, their spirits lifted shortly after the break when Saud Abdulhamid scored his first goal in European competition, finishing neatly into the top corner.
Roma maintained their dominance, creating several opportunities that went unconverted, including an offside Gianluca Mancini deflecting Ndicka's shot into the net just before Matías Soule squandered two chances.
Any remaining concerns among the home crowd were quickly alleviated when Braga's goalkeeper received a red card for handling the ball outside his area in an attempt to stop Abdulhamid.
Substitute Stephan El Shaarawy witnessed his attempt hit teammate Artem Dovbyk on the goal line during the final moments of the match. Following their relentless pursuit, Mario Hermoso capitalized in stoppage time to score his inaugural goal for the club.
This victory secures three points for Roma, bringing them closer to the top eight. Conversely, Braga's five-match unbeaten streak concludes (with four wins and one draw), resulting in their fall below their triumphant opponents. However, it is important to note that Os Arsenalistas still maintain a position within the play-off spots.
SportsLigue