Roma mounted a thrilling comeback to secure a crucial 2-1 victory over 10-man Athletic Club in the first leg, overturning an early setback from Inaki Williams’ opener.
The Giallorossi came into the match in fine form, having won five of their last six competitive games and eliminating FC Porto in the play-offs.
Leandro Paredes was absent due to suspension, but the return of Alexis Saelemaekers and Bryan Cristante bolstered their squad.
Artem Dovbyk and Zeki Celik recovered from minor injuries, while Lucas Dourna-Gouath and Anass Salah-Eddine were ineligible.
Athletic Club, who finished second behind Lazio in the league phase, entered the tie following a domestic defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Dovbyk came close to giving Roma the lead when he latched onto a precise Niccolò Pisilli through ball, outmaneuvering Yeray Alvarez, only to lose his footing at the crucial moment.
Athletic Club suffered an early setback as Daniel Vivian limped off injured, while Devyne Rensch’s vital interception denied Nico Williams from close range.
Roma nearly found the breakthrough in the 41st minute when Tommaso Baldanzi capitalized on a defensive lapse from a Cristante pass. He teed up Paulo Dybala, whose strike rattled the underside of the crossbar but failed to cross the line.
On the other end, Yeray Alvarez sent a header just wide, and Sannadi narrowly missed the target from an Inaki Williams assist.
Athletic Club took the lead moments into the second half. A poor clearance from Evan N’Dicka led to Unai Gomez’s effort being blocked, but from the resulting corner, Aitar Paredes flicked the ball on for Inaki Williams, who nodded it home at the back post unchallenged.
Roma wasted no time responding, with Dybala selflessly setting up Baldanzi, but the young midfielder skied his effort under pressure.
Their equalizer arrived shortly after when Zeki Celik’s low cross found Angelino at the far post, and his scuffed shot spun off the upright and into the net.
Athletic Club had a golden opportunity to regain the lead, but substitute Alex Berenguer failed to capitalize on another delivery from Inaki Williams.
Their situation worsened when Yeray Alvarez was sent off for a second yellow card after hauling down Eldor Shomurodov during a Roma counterattack.
Roma pushed for a late winner, with Gianluca Mancini nodding a free kick into Saelemaekers’ path, forcing a save. Yuri Berchiche then made a desperate block to deny Matias Soule following a slick one-two with Saelemaekers.
With the last kick of the game, Roma took full advantage of the extra man. Shomurodov timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap from a Saelemaekers through ball, turned sharply, and rifled a low shot into the near bottom corner, handing the Giallorossi a 2-1 lead heading into the second leg in Bilbao.
