Union SG 1-1 Roma: Mancini not enough in new disappointing Europa League draw

Roma played another disappointing Europa League draw, as Gianluca Mancini’s header was cancelled out by a costly Mile Svilar slip and they risked defeat against Union Saint-Gilloise.

The Giallorossi were without Evan Ndicka due to illness, plus Mario Hermoso and Alexis Saelemaekers, but still wouldn’t give Mats Hummels his first start. The hosts won the Belgian Cup and Belgian Super Cup, but missed Guillaume Francois, Lazare Amani, Casper Terho, Promise David, Alessio Castro-Montes and Henok Teklab.

The mood was grim for Ivan Juric after four points from three European games, but above all two defeats in the last three Serie A fixtures.

See how the game unfolded on the Liveblog.

Anan Khalaili pounced on a poor clearance after 70 seconds to blast inches over the bar from the edge of the area, while Eldor Shomurodov was offside in the build-up when Tommaso Baldanzi stung the goalkeeper’s gloves.

Ross Sykes steered a free kick just wide and Gianluca Mancini went down in a collision with Machida that the referee considered to be them simply crossing paths.

Lorenzo Pellegrini’s volley from a corner was straight at the goalkeeper and Mile Svilar made a one-handed save on Ousseynou Niang’s angled drive at the near post.

After the restart, a Vanhoutte chest and volley was simple for Svilar and Shomurodov steered Pellegrini’s cross wide with a free header.

epa11708160 Kevin Mac Allister of Union SG (2-L) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the UEFA Europa League match between Union SG and AS Roma in Brussels, Belgium, 07 November 2024. EPA-EFE/OLIVIER MATTHYS

However, by far the best chance of the game so far came on 52 minutes when Tommaso Baldanzi’s left-foot curler from the edge of the area bent around the goalkeeper to smash against the far post.

Artem Dovbyk came on and immediately earned a corner with an angled drive, after which Pellegrini’s cross back in following a clearance found Gianluca Mancini to get his head to it before Anthony Moris from six yards, giving Roma the lead.

Union SG equalised with the shortest player on the pitch, as Kevin Mac Allister was allowed a header at the back post on Vanhoutte’s corner after Svilar slipped on the turf. He is the brother of Liverpool and Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.

Kevin Rodriguez scuffed wide, while Boufal couldn’t keep his header on target and then blasted straight at Svilar. There was a big scare for Roma in stoppages when Sykes had a shot charged down by Zeki Celik and Svilar had to parry the Anouar Ait El Hadj rebound.