Roma returns to Champions League; over 300 fans celebrate late-night arrival at Fiumicino

Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy starred in Roma's 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona, securing the club's return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years. Dybala provided the assist for El Shaarawy's final goal in Roma colors, allowing his teammate to mark his last appearance with the club on a high note. El Shaarawy, who joined Roma in January 2016, concluded his time at the Giallorossi with the decisive second goal. After the match, El Shaarawy was awarded the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award following a commanding display that included two assists. However, in an emotional gesture, Dybala refused to let his teammate keep the individual accolade. El Shaarawy called out to Dybala, saying "It's yours, it's yours," but Dybala declined, tears in his eyes, insisting El Shaarawy keep the award as a final memento of his time with Roma. The exchange underscored the mutual respect and friendship between the two players, with the pair embracing after the touching moment. Roma's Champions League qualification marks a significant achievement after a seven-year absence from European football's premier club competition.

Stephan El Shaarawy scored in Roma's Champions League-clinching victory over Verona, securing the club's European qualification on the final day of the season. Speaking to Dazn after the match, El Shaarawy reflected on what he described as the perfect ending to Roma's campaign. He said: "I think this is the most beautiful finale that could have been, the one we deserved. We have done an incredible journey, finishing it like this is truly extraordinary. Here I made my Serie A debut, finishing like this is something magical. I am truly happy about all of this and the path we have taken." El Shaarawy's comments underscored the significance of Roma's final-day success, which secured Champions League football for the coming season. The winger emphasized the scale of the club's achievement across the entire campaign, describing it as an "incredible journey" that culminated in the most meaningful way possible. His contribution with a goal added personal satisfaction to the collective milestone, making the qualification particularly poignant given his history with the club.

AS Roma secured Champions League qualification for the first time in seven years under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, triggering widespread celebrations among players and staff. The squad marked the achievement across social media, with Paulo Dybala posting the Champions League logo and Matías Soulé sharing a photo alongside Paulo and Gollini highlighting the competition Roma will enter next season. Other players including Celik, El Aynaoui, Wesley, and Calafiori also posted celebratory messages on Instagram. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who attended the match despite an injury, offered a pointed message on social media. His post read: "Banda 3° posto" (Gang third place), a barbed reference to Roma's final league position. Wesley captioned his post "Objective completed successfully," while Calafiori republished the result with an emphatic "DAJEEEEE." The Champions League return represents a significant milestone for Roma after a seven-year absence from Europe's elite club competition, marking a major step forward for Gasperini's squad.

Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy starred in Roma's 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona, securing the club's return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years. Dybala provided the assist for El Shaarawy's final goal in Roma colors, allowing his teammate to mark his last appearance with the club on a high note. El Shaarawy, who joined Roma in January 2016, concluded his time at the Giallorossi with the decisive second goal. After the match, El Shaarawy was awarded the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award following a commanding display that included two assists. However, in an emotional gesture, Dybala refused to let his teammate keep the individual accolade. El Shaarawy called out to Dybala, saying "It's yours, it's yours," but Dybala declined, tears in his eyes, insisting El Shaarawy keep the award as a final memento of his time with Roma. The exchange underscored the mutual respect and friendship between the two players, with the pair embracing after the touching moment. Roma's Champions League qualification marks a significant achievement after a seven-year absence from European football's premier club competition.

Paulo Dybala spoke ahead of Roma's final Serie A match against Verona, reflecting on the club's season. The Argentine forward emphasized that competing in European football should be an expectation for a club of Roma's stature, encouraging fans to savour the current moment. Dybala's comments underline Roma's ambitions to establish themselves as consistent Champions League contenders. The remarks came as Roma concluded their league campaign, with European qualification secured.

Paulo Dybala spoke after Roma's Champions League-clinching victory over Verona, reflecting on the club's return to Europe's premier competition. The Argentine forward acknowledged that Roma have now earned their place in the Champions League for the upcoming season, describing it as something the club and its supporters should expect as standard. Dybala noted that in recent years other Serie A clubs may have deserved Champions League qualification more than Roma, but insisted the team has fully earned their spot this time. He emphasized the importance of this achievement for a club of Roma's stature, particularly following disappointments such as the Europa League final loss. The winger expressed satisfaction at the moment, saying the squad will now enjoy competing in what he called "the night of magical stars" — a reference to the Champions League's significance. The comments come as Roma confirmed their continental qualification and prepare for the new season under their coaching staff. Details regarding contract renewals and other squad matters remain unclear, though Dybala's focus centres on Roma's return to elite European football and the responsibilities that come with representing a club of Roma's historical standing.

Gianluca Mancini spoke to media after Roma secured Champions League qualification following their victory against Verona. The defender expressed overwhelming emotion at the achievement, saying: "There is huge euphoria, it is a group victory. We said it to ourselves inside, even when people wrote us off." Mancini highlighted the turnaround in Roma's final five matches, which proved decisive in finishing third with 73 points and earning a place in Europe's elite competition. Roma endured a difficult spell earlier in the season but recovered strongly under their manager's direction. Mancini emphasized the collective effort and the unity within the squad, noting that senior players including Pellegrini, Cristante, Dybala, El Shaarawy, and Celik had remained committed despite previous disappointments. He reflected on past European campaigns—Europa League semifinals and finals—that had fallen short, making this Champions League qualification particularly significant. The club's label as a mid-table team has now been shed following consistent performances and a strong finish to the season. Mancini described his emotional state: "My heart is racing. It would make me cry, but I won't. I played 11 matches under suspension but every match was important and I had to be careful. When the tempo rises and the level increases, I couldn't and didn't want to miss." He credited the manager's tactical approach and the group's reaction to setbacks as key factors in their success, particularly highlighting Roma's dramatic 2-goal comeback against Parma as a turning point that signaled the season's direction.

Gianluca Mancini spoke emotionally after Roma's final Serie A fixture of the season against Verona on matchday 38. The defender expressed pride in the team's collective performance, stating that the victory belonged to the entire group. Mancini's emotional response highlighted the significance of the result and his personal investment in Roma's campaign. The match represented the concluding round of the Serie A season, with details of the specific outcome remaining unclear from the available information.

AS Roma face Hellas Verona in a crucial match where the Giallorossi control their own destiny in the race for Champions League qualification. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has settled on his attacking lineup, fielding the dream front three of Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, and Donyell Malen. The tactical setup aims to secure victory without relying on results elsewhere. Gasperini retains some flexibility in midfield, with the possibility of starting Koné from the outset as the coach seeks to settle the match early. In defence, former Roma player Ghilardi returns to the Bentegodi as a replacement for the absent Ndicka, marking his first appearance at his former home ground in a year. On the right flank, Rensch is expected to start ahead of Wesley, tasked with repeating an impressive performance from the Parma fixture. The squad selection reflects Gasperini's intent to field his strongest available players to maximize Roma's chances of claiming the three points needed to secure Champions League football. The formation is set as a 3-4-2-1, with Mile Svilar in goal and Gianluca Mancini anchoring the defensive line.

Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy starred in Roma's 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona, securing the club's return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years. Dybala provided the assist for El Shaarawy's final goal in Roma colors, allowing his teammate to mark his last appearance with the club on a high note. El Shaarawy, who joined Roma in January 2016, concluded his time at the Giallorossi with the decisive second goal. After the match, El Shaarawy was awarded the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award following a commanding display that included two assists. However, in an emotional gesture, Dybala refused to let his teammate keep the individual accolade. El Shaarawy called out to Dybala, saying "It's yours, it's yours," but Dybala declined, tears in his eyes, insisting El Shaarawy keep the award as a final memento of his time with Roma. The exchange underscored the mutual respect and friendship between the two players, with the pair embracing after the touching moment. Roma's Champions League qualification marks a significant achievement after a seven-year absence from European football's premier club competition.

Roma player El Shaarawy spoke ahead of the final day of Serie A, with Verona-Roma marking the 38th and last round of fixtures. El Shaarawy expressed satisfaction with the campaign, describing it as an incredible journey and suggesting the conclusion could not have been better. Details of specific achievements or results remain unclear from the available text.

Stephan El Shaarawy scored in Roma's Champions League-clinching victory over Verona, securing the club's European qualification on the final day of the season. Speaking to Dazn after the match, El Shaarawy reflected on what he described as the perfect ending to Roma's campaign. He said: "I think this is the most beautiful finale that could have been, the one we deserved. We have done an incredible journey, finishing it like this is truly extraordinary. Here I made my Serie A debut, finishing like this is something magical. I am truly happy about all of this and the path we have taken." El Shaarawy's comments underscored the significance of Roma's final-day success, which secured Champions League football for the coming season. The winger emphasized the scale of the club's achievement across the entire campaign, describing it as an "incredible journey" that culminated in the most meaningful way possible. His contribution with a goal added personal satisfaction to the collective milestone, making the qualification particularly poignant given his history with the club.