UEL | Bologna 1-1 Roma: All square in big Europa League Italian derby

Lorenzo Pellegrini cancelled out the Federico Bernardeschi curler, while both Bologna and Roma rattled the woodwork, as the Europa League Round of 16 will be decided in the second leg.

This all-Italian derby means only one will represent Calcio in the quarter-finals. Gianluca Mancini was suspended, with Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala, Matias Soulé, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson injured, plus Mario Hermoso not at 100 per cent, after finishing eighth in the league phase. The Rossoblu eliminated SK Brann in the play-offs, but after five straight wins suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Verona at the weekend. Torbjorn Heggem and Charalampos Lykogiannis were carrying knocks.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Federico Bernardeschi couldn’t quite get on the end of a Jonathan Rowe through ball in the opening 90 seconds, while Juan Miranda was booked for a foul on Bryan Zaragoza, so will be suspended for the second leg next week.

Zaragoza scuffed the angled drive wide from a promising position and Mile Svilar got a glove to the Bernardeschi pull-back from the by-line, but the Roma goalkeeper needed a fantastic save to fingertip the Bernardeschi left-foot curler out from under the bar.

On the resulting corner to close out half-time, Nicolò Casale and then Tommaso Pobega couldn’t quite steer their headers on target at the back post.

Robinio Vaz replaced Zaragoza and immediately got Joao Mario booked for stopping a counter-attack, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock.

Jonathan Rowe controlled a loose ball in midfield and rode two tackles, spreading it down the right where Bernardeschi swept first-time with the left boot into the far top corner from 13 yards. It was the Italian veteran’s fourth Europa League goal of the season.

Moments later, Malen controlled a Devyne Rensch pass and clipped the outside of the near post from a tricky angle.

Bernardeschi’s assist sent Pobega clear on goal only for Svilar to sprint off his line for a decisive block, while Hermoso made his comeback after five games out injured.

Bologna paid for a howler from Joao Mario, who failed to control a loose ball and was robbed by Bryan Cristante, then Malen shrugged off Jhon Lucumi and Remo Freuler to roll across for Lorenzo Pellegrini to prod into the empty net from seven yards.

Roma nearly turned it around when Malen slalomed through the defence, but his finish took a double deflection off Casale and Lucumi to bounce off the base of the upright.

Bologna also rattled the frame of the goal at the 89^th minute when Martin Vitik got his head to the Lykogiannis free kick, thumping the crossbar.

The hosts pushed throughout stoppages to make home advantage count, but Pobega and Freuler strikes were off target.

Bologna 1-1 Roma

Bernardeschi 50 (B), Pellegrini 71 (R)