Scorchers from Edoardo Bove and Romelu Lukaku had the game wrapped up for Roma within 17 minutes, winning this head-to-head with Slavia Prague for top spot in the group.
2023/2024 UEFA Europa League
2-0
Match Report
It took just 43 seconds to break the deadlock, as Stephan El Shaarawy won it back, laid off for Edoardo Bove, whose stunning right-foot curler from outside the box found the far top corner. It was the fastest goal in Roma’s UEFA history.
El Shaarawy also inspired the second, reacting quickly to a loose ball in midfield and threading through for Lukaku, who hammered it into the roof of the net from a tight angle with his trusty left foot. It was his 14th consecutive Europa League appearance on target.
Mile Svilar had to get down for a difficult one-handed save on the deflected Mick van Buren effort, pushing it round the near post.
Lukaku drilled just wide of the near post and El Shaarawy was very unlucky with his curler that thumped the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Moments later, Ivan Schranz should’ve done better when he was sent through by Vaclav Jurecka and fired over as Svilar came rushing out to narrow the angle.
The Giallorossi largely tried to control their lead in the second half and Andrea Belotti forced a save at the near post on a long ball.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
1' GOAL! Roma 1-0 Slavia Praha (Edoardo Bove)
17' GOAL! Roma 2-0 Slavia Praha (Lukaku)
23' Yellow Card! Edoardo Bove booked
27' Yellow Card! Lukas Masopust booked
59' CLOSE! Lukaku’s shot wide out
63' OFF THE POST!
68' Yellow Card! N'Dicka booked
Line-ups
Roma XI: El Shaarawy, Lukaku, Cristante, D.Llorente, Zeki Çelik, Mile Svilar, G. Mancini, Aouar, N'Dicka, Nicola Zalewski, Edoardo Bove
Subs: Patricio, Paredes, Belotti, Karsdorp, Pietro Boer, Luigi Cherubini, Riccardo Pagano, Niccolò Pisilli, Francesco D'Alessio, João Gabriel e Costa Cesco
Slavia Praha XI: Ivan Schranz, Mick van Buren, Tomas Holes, Ales Mandous, Lukas Masopust, Oscar Dorley, David Doudera, Igoh Ogbu, Tomas Vlcek, Christos Zafeiris, Andres Dumitrescu
Subs: Jan Boril, Ondrej Kolar, Vaclav Jurecka, Lukas Provod, Jakub Hromada, Michal Tomic, Conrad Wallem, Mojmir Chytil, Muhamed Tijani, Jan Sirotnik, Matej Jurasek, Bolu Ogungbayi