Malen scores as AS Roma secure crucial away victory against Bologna in Serie A

AS Roma\u2019s hopes of qualifying for next season\u2019s UEFA Champions League have been given a major boost, after an impressive 2-0 victory over Bologna that marked the Giallorossi\u2019s first win away from home in Serie A since January.

Donyell Malen has been an absolute revelation for Roma since joining the Giallorossi in January, and he took little time to emboss that reputation, as he found the back of the net with the very first shot of the match after just seven minutes.

The Dutch international almost grabbed a second midway through the first half too, as he spun past Jhon Lucumi and dinked the ball over Federico Ravaglia, only for his effort to roll just wide of the target.

The hosts finally managed to show some attacking intent at around the half-hour mark, which saw a firm strike from Riccardo Orsolini saved smartly by Mile Svilar.

There was no question that Gian Piero Gasperini’s side were the stronger team in the first half, though, and they deservedly doubled their advantage in stoppage time, thanks to Neil El Aynaoui’s close-range strike following a superb delivery from Malen.

Bologna duly began the second half with more urgency, and had a chance to halve the deficit after 55 minutes, but Orsolini spooned the ball over the bar when in a promising position.

[image alt="Match stats" id="753e2ee8-9ade-4dc0-baa9-52517104eff7" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="c36f94ac-ff09-4766-a1bb-78c9a58b3814" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /]

Yet, he would come much closer to handing his side a lifeline just moments later, as a vicious effort smacked off the woodwork to give Roma a clear warning that the game wasn’t over yet.

Despite Bologna’s improvement, Roma’s dominance in the first half proved to be the difference as Vincenzo Italiano’s side just couldn’t find a way past a well-disciplined and organised Giallorossi defence.

Gasperini’s team appeared more than happy to simply sit back and protect their lead, and their reward was three vital points at the full-time whistle.

Roma now sit fifth in Serie A, with just two points separating them from fourth-placed Juventus – although the Old Lady have a game in hand on La Lupa.

Meanwhile, Bologna’s chances of qualifying for Europe next season are very remote, as they remain in eighth spot with just four matches left to play.