Roma 3-4 Bologna Player Ratings: Jonathan Rowe 9.0/10 Stuns Roma as Bologna Survive Epic Thriller to Reach Europa League Quarter-Finals

The Stadio Olimpico has hosted its share of dramatic European nights, but what unfolded across 111 breathless minutes on the 19th of March 2026 will live long in the memory of everyone fortunate enough to witness it. AS Roma and Bologna served up one of the Europa League's great knockout ties, a match that swung wildly from end to end, produced seven goals across normal time alone, and required extra time to finally separate two sides that simply refused to accept defeat at any point in the evening.

Bologna arrived in Rome with a slender aggregate advantage and proceeded to defend it with exactly the kind of clinical ruthlessness that had carried them this far in the competition. Jonathan Rowe's stunning long-range opener set the tone in the 22nd minute, and though Roma fought back magnificently, three times drawing level or reducing the deficit with real character, the visitors always had an answer. Cambiaghi's 111th-minute strike, combining brilliantly with Dallinga, finally ended Roma's resistance and sent Bologna into the quarter-finals in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, completing a 5-4 aggregate victory that did justice to both sides. Here are Sportsdunia's Roma vs Bologna player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Jonathan Rowe was the catalyst for everything Bologna produced and thoroughly deserved his 8.5/10 rating.
• Roma showed incredible heart, but their defensive frailties ultimately cost them dearly.
• Cambiaghi's extra-time winner was the decisive blow that Roma simply had no answer to.

Roma Player Ratings vs Bologna

Goalkeeper

Mile Svilar - 6.5: What a tough night for the keeper. He conceded four goals, but it's hard to pin the blame solely on him for most of them. We noticed he made four saves, including a couple of really sharp stops inside the box. The defence in front of him was a complete shambles. He looked composed on the ball, but was ultimately let down by his teammates.

Defenders

Evan Ndicka - 6.5: A very mixed performance from the defender. He got on the scoresheet with a well-taken header to bring Roma level, which was a huge moment. However, we can't ignore his error that led to a goal. He was part of a backline that conceded four goals, which is never a good look. He won a good number of his duels but looked shaky when Bologna attacked with pace.

Mario Hermoso - 6.0: He was busy all night, winning 11 duels and making 3 interceptions. On paper, his stats look decent. But watching the game, the entire defensive unit looked disconnected. He put his body on the line with a couple of blocks, but the communication just wasn't there.

Gianluca Mancini - 5.0: A really poor display, and that's putting it mildly. He lost possession a staggering 18 times and his error led directly to a shot. He looked off the pace and struggled in his duels, winning just half of them. What stood out to us was his body language; he seemed frustrated and was frequently caught out of position.

Midfielders

Bryan Cristante - 6.5: The captain ran his socks off, that's for sure. He had a massive 96 touches and was everywhere in the midfield battle. However, he also lost the ball 22 times, which is far too high. He won an incredible 10 aerial duels, showing his fight, but he couldn't get a grip on the game as Bologna's midfield often bypassed him.

Wesley - 7.0: One of the few bright spots for the home side. We were impressed with his composure and tidy passing, boasting a 95% accuracy. He made 4 tackles and recovered the ball 8 times, showing his defensive contribution. He tried to get forward but was often covering for others.

Zeki Çelik - 5.5: A difficult night for the wing-back. He was booked and was dribbled past three times, looking vulnerable defensively. While he did create a couple of chances and delivered some decent crosses, his main job was to defend, and he struggled. He was caught between attacking and defending, and didn't master either role in this match.

Manu Koné - 6.0: It's harsh to give him a low rating as his game was cut short by injury after just 20 minutes. In his brief time on the pitch, he looked tidy with a 95% pass accuracy. He was just getting into the rhythm of the game when he had to be replaced. Unfortunate for him and for the team.

Forwards

Donyell Malen - 7.5: He was a livewire all evening. Bologna's defenders couldn't handle him, as shown by the 5 fouls he drew. He confidently dispatched his penalty to give Roma a lifeline. He was constantly looking to make things happen, even if a couple of his shots were wayward.

Niccolò Pisilli - 7.0: A really energetic and promising display from the young attacker. He was not afraid to take players on and get involved, racking up 96 touches. He worked hard defensively too, winning 8 duels and making 3 tackles. He might have been a bit wasteful at times, but his energy was infectious before he was subbed in extra time.

Stephan El Shaarawy - 4.5: A really disappointing performance. His game will be remembered for conceding the penalty with a clumsy challenge just before halftime. That was a momentum-killer. He just couldn't get into the game and was hooked early in the second half. From our perspective, it was the right call from the manager.

Substitutes

Lorenzo Pellegrini - 8.5: What an impact. Came on early for the injured Manu Koné and completely changed the game for Roma. He hit the post, assisted Evan Ndicka's goal, and then scored a sensational long-range equalizer to force extra time. He was at the heart of everything good about his team's comeback.

Robinio Vaz - 6.0: Came on and won the penalty that Donyell Malen scored. He added some pace but was caught offside a few too many times. A decent cameo.

Neil El Aynaoui - 6.0: Brought on in extra time, had one headed chance that he missed. Didn't have enough time to truly make an impact.

Bryan Zaragoza - N/A: Came on late in extra time with little opportunity to influence the proceedings.

Manager

G. Gasperini - 6.0: Credit where it's due, his team showed incredible heart to come back from 3-1 down. His substitution of Pellegrini was a masterstroke. However, his team's defensive structure was appalling all night. Conceding four goals at home in a knockout tie is simply not good enough, and he has to take responsibility for that.

Bologna Player Ratings vs Roma

Check out the Bologna player ratings vs AS Roma.

Goalkeeper

Federico Ravaglia - 6.5: He conceded three goals, but like his opposite number, he wasn't always helped by his defence. He made four saves and was decisive in coming off his line, punching clear three times. He couldn't do much about Pellegrini's wonder strike.

Defenders

Jhon Lucumí - 7.5: What stood out to us was his incredible 13 clearances. He was an absolute colossus at the back, winning the majority of his duels and making crucial interventions. While the team conceded three, it would have been many more without his presence.

Nadir Zortea - 6.5: A very eventful game for him. He did brilliantly to win the penalty in the first half. However, he also gave away five fouls and received a yellow card, living on the edge a bit. It was a combative and energetic performance, though sometimes lacking in discipline.

João Mário - 6.0: An average performance from the defender. He created a big chance going forward, which was a bonus. Defensively, however, he looked a bit suspect and was dribbled past a couple of times. He did his job but didn't stand out for good or bad reasons.

Martin Vitík - 6.5: He was solid for the 73 minutes he was on the pitch. Made five clearances and blocked two shots, contributing to a strong defensive effort in the main period of the game. He was replaced as the manager looked to shuffle the pack.

Midfielders

Tommaso Pobega - 8.0: We were so impressed with his defensive work. He made a last-man tackle, won 6 tackles, and made 3 interceptions. He was an absolute machine in front of the defence, breaking up play constantly. He was a major reason Roma struggled to build rhythm for large parts of the game.

Remo Freuler - 5.5: He worked tirelessly, but his performance is completely overshadowed by giving away the penalty. It was a clumsy challenge that allowed Roma back into the game when Bologna were cruising at 3-1. A costly mistake that almost proved fatal for his team.

Lewis Ferguson - 7.5: The captain led by example. He was a thorn in Roma's side all night, drawing six fouls and battling for every ball. He won 11 duels and was a calming influence in possession. From our perspective, he was the engine room and the leader his team needed in such a hostile environment.

Forwards

Jonathan Rowe - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match. What a performance. He scored a fantastic opening goal and then provided two assists, including a brilliant setup for Santiago Castro's goal. He created four chances in total and was simply unplayable for the 73 minutes he was on the pitch.

Santiago Castro - 8.0: Incredibly clinical. He scored a crucial goal to make it 3-1 and also chipped in with an assist. His movement was excellent and he linked up play beautifully. He only had 26 touches, but his impact was immense.

Federico Bernardeschi - 7.0: He showed nerves of steel to slot home his penalty right before the half-time whistle. That was a massive psychological moment. He looked sharp and dangerous, contributing to Bologna's fluid attack before he was taken off.

Substitutes

Nicolò Cambiaghi - 8.0: The hero. Came off the bench and scored the winning goal in extra time with a composed finish. A dream substitution that won his team the tie.

Thijs Dallinga - 7.5: Another substitute with a huge impact. He provided the crucial assist for Cambiaghi's winner. His hold-up play was vital in extra time.

Riccardo Orsolini - 6.5: Added fresh legs and nearly scored himself, forcing a save. Looked lively.

Nicolò Casale - 6.0: Came on to shore up the defence and did his job adequately.

Nikola Moro - 6.0: Helped see out the game in extra time with some tidy possession.

Manager

V. Italiano - 8.5: His tactics were spot on. His team came to Stadio Olimpico and played brave, attacking football. What stood out most was his game management. His substitutions were perfect, with Cambiaghi and Dallinga combining for the winning goal. A managerial masterclass that won his side this epic Europa League tie.

Man of the Match

Jonathan Rowe was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Stephan El Shaarawy was the worst performer.