Roma secured a dramatic 1-1 draw with Panathinaikos, booking their spot in the UEFA Europa League last 16.
The Italian side had been reduced to 10 men after Mancini’s red card in the 15th minute, but Roma held on to grab a crucial point.
Despite being a man down, Roma created several chances, with Kostas Tsimikas and Lorenzo Pellegrini testing Panathinaikos goalkeeper Alban Lafont.
However, it was Panathinaikos who took the lead in the 58th minute, thanks to Vicente Taborda’s clever finish.
Roma pushed hard for an equalizer and got their reward in the 80th minute, when Jan Ziolkowski headed in Niccolo Pisilli’s cross. The goal moved Roma back into eighth place, securing their spot in the last 16.
Panathinaikos, meanwhile, will have to settle for an unseeded playoff spot. Rafael Benitez’s side had been in control, but Roma’s late equalizer dashed their hopes of a top-eight finish.
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini praised his team’s resilience, saying they deserved to qualify for the last 16. Panathinaikos, on the other hand, will be disappointed to miss out on a seeded spot.
