Mancini the hero again as Roma snatch first-leg lead in Milan

Gianluca Mancini was Roma’s match-winning hero for the second time in a matter of days as the visitors survived a late surge to claim a 1-0 UEFA Europa League quarter-final first-leg win against AC Milan at San Siro.

The centre-back headed home from a corner midway through the first half in an almost-identical goal to the one that clinched victory by the same scoreline against Lazio in Saturday’s Rome derby.

Daniele De Rossi’s side were on top for much of the game, surprising the in-form Rossoneri with a new tactical set-up and dictating play as they ended a nine-match winless run in the fixture in confident fashion.

Mancini’s 18th-minute header from a Paulo Dybala delivery came after Mike Maignan was forced into a sharp save on a deflected Stephan El Shaarawy effort, and Milan’s only response appeared to be from Tijjani Reijnders, who had four efforts beaten away by Mile Svilar over the course of the game.

However, Milan pushed in the final 15 minutes and Svilar pushed a Yacine Adli effort onto the woodwork before Olivier Giroud should have equalised from five yards out, only for the veteran Frenchman’s finish to clip the bar on its way over as the Rossoneri’s eight-match unbeaten streak came to an end.

Roma, who lost last season’s Europa League final on penalties to Sevilla, will now look to see out the tie at the Stadio Olimpico next week as they search for a second European title in three years following their 2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League triumph.

Mancini could not stay out of the headlines in Italy in the days leading up to this game after scoring the winner in the Rome derby on Saturday before celebrating by waving a controversial flag of a rat in Lazio colours in front of the buoyant fans.

The defender ensured he will stay in the spotlight after scoring an eerily similar goal, heading home from a Dybala corner. The no-nonsense defender is fast becoming a cult hero for the Giallorossi faithful, and his brace of strikes this week have massively boosted both their domestic and European hopes for the season.

Although Roma were the better side for much of the game and deserved their win, an alert performance from their ‘keeper – the penalty shoot-out hero against Feyenoord in the playoff round – ensured they took the spoils back to the capital.

Svilar denied Reijnders four times from distance and managed to palm an awkward Adli effort onto the bar in the second half as Milan’s late attacking efforts were thwarted.

AC Milan: Maignan 6; Calabria 6, Thiaw 6, Gabbia 6, Hernandez 5; Bennacer 6, Reijnders 7; Pulisic 5, Loftus-Cheek 6, Leao 5; Giroud 5

Subs: Adli 6, Okafor 6, Chukwueze 7

Roma: Svilar 8; Celik 7, Mancini 8, Smalling 7, Spinazzola 7; Cristante 6, Paredes 7, Pellegrini 7; Dybala 8, Lukaku 6, El Shaarawy 7

Subs: Abraham 6, Aouar N/A, Bova N/A, Llorente N/A

18’ GOAL! MILAN 0-1 ROMA (MANCINI)

It’s him again! In almost a copy and paste goal from the Rome derby last weekend, Dybala swings in a corner and Mancin finds space six yards out to nod it into the bottom corner! Advantage Roma early on, and they deserve it. Two goals in two games from the big centre-back.

43’ SVILAR DENIES REIJNDERS AGAIN

Milan threaten again through the Dutch midfielder, who shoots from the edge of the box and forces another sharp save from Svilar, this time diving low to his left to parry the effort.

Milan are pushing more now and Svilar has to be alert to flick a palm at an Adli effort to divert it off the woodwork and over the top.

88’ GIROUD HITS THE BAR!

What a miss! Chukwueze goes on a mesmerising dribble off the right wing to the byline and cuts a pass back to Giroud lurking in front of goal, but the striker’s finish from point-blank range clips the top of the bar and flies over! A huge miss from the Frenchman.