Nico Shines as Athletic Club Dominates 10-Man Roma to Secure Quarter-Final Spot

Athletic Club secured their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League with a 3-1 victory over 10-man AS Roma at Estadio San Mames, clinching a 4-3 win on aggregate and snapping the Giallorossi’s eight-match unbeaten run.

With a passionate home crowd behind them, Athletic wasted no time in pushing forward, eager to overturn the deficit from the final moments of the first leg.

Although the opening 10 minutes had few clear opportunities, Roma made a significant error early on when seasoned centre-back Mats Hummels was shown a red card.

Following a misplaced pass intercepted by Maroan Sannadi, Hummels desperately attempted to rectify the situation with a sliding challenge that ultimately failed, leading to his dismissal from the match.

Seeking to take advantage of their numerical superiority, Athletic found themselves frustrated as Sannadi’s close-range chip went awry, and a powerful strike from the lively Nico Williams hit the post.

Despite struggling with possession and lacking attacking menace, the Giallorossi managed to hold their ground effectively, leaving manager Claudio Ranieri dissatisfied that they conceded just before the interval.

Inaki and Nico Williams switched wings in the latter part of the first half, a tactical decision that bore fruit when Inaki’s cross from the left was expertly headed by Sannadi into Nico’s path, allowing him to find the net with a significant deflection off Angelino.

After the break, Roma composed themselves and continued to frustrate the hosts, making it difficult for Athletic to create clear chances.

A warning shot came when Eldor Shomurodov, the hero of the first leg, entered the fray and swiftly broke free of the Roma defence, only to be thwarted at the near post by Mile Svilar.

When normal service resumed, Alex Berenguer forced Svilar into a remarkable save to his left, before Athletic finally managed to take the lead on aggregate.

The breakthrough came from a set piece, as Berenguer’s corner was expertly nodded into the far corner by Yuri Berchiche, leaving Svilar with no chance of making a save.

The responsibility to attack was now upon a Roma team that had registered just three shots in the first 75 minutes, yet they struggled to create quality chances in the attacking third.

The match was effectively sealed when Nico Williams added a third for Athletic, skillfully weaving past Gianluca Mancini and lifting the ball over Svilar to secure their place in the last eight, extending their winning streak at home in the UEL to five matches.

Despite a late consolation penalty from Leandro Paredes in the 93rd minute, Roma were eliminated, ending their 11-match winless run in UEL away games, which now leaves them with solely Serie A to concentrate on.

Click here for a detailed breakdown of the match statistics.