Malen and El Shaarawy goals secure Roma's Champions League qualification with win at Verona

AS Roma secured a return to the Champions League on May 24 with a 2-0 win away to Hellas Verona on the final day of the Serie A season. Donyell Malen and Stephan El Shaarawy scored in the second half at the Bentegodi, while Paulo Dybala was involved in both goals. The result left Roma third in the final standings, according to the club and match reports. It completed Gian Piero Gasperini’s first season in charge with a top-four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League. ### How did Roma get the result they needed in Verona? Verona held Roma scoreless through the first half before the match turned after the break. Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Verona defender Valentini was sent off in the 50th minute, leaving the home side with 10 men for the closing stages. Roma took the lead soon after when Malen followed up after his penalty was saved, converting from close range after Dybala kept the move alive. (asroma.com) Stephan El Shaarawy added the second goal later in the half to settle the match. Match reports from Roma and other outlets said Dybala supplied the decisive pass again, with El Shaarawy finishing to make it 2-0. The two-goal margin was enough to remove any doubt over Roma’s place in the top four. ### Why was third place enough for Champions League qualification? (gazzetta.it) Serie A’s final-day results confirmed Roma in third place, behind Inter and Napoli and ahead of Milan. Yahoo Sports’ final standings report said Milan’s home loss to Cagliari left the Rossoneri outside the top four, allowing Roma and Como to join Inter and Napoli in next season’s Champions League. Roma’s own match report also said the win, combined with Milan’s defeat, confirmed third place. (asroma.com) The 2-0 victory therefore did more than complete the season with three points. It secured direct entry into Europe’s top club competition after Roma had spent recent seasons outside the Champions League places. ANSA and other Italian reports described it as the club’s first return to the competition in seven years. (sports.yahoo.com) ### What stood out about Gasperini’s first season? Gian Piero Gasperini completed his debut campaign at Roma with Champions League qualification, a result the club framed as one of the season’s main objectives. Roma’s official website said the team finished third after the Verona win, while Flashscore said the club closed the league campaign with six wins in its last seven Serie A matches. (ansa.it) Donyell Malen also finished the season as a decisive figure in attack. A final-round Serie A roundup listed Malen among the league’s leading scorers on 14 goals, underlining his role in Roma’s late push. Against Verona, however, Dybala’s contribution was central, with reports crediting him with creating both goals. (asroma.com) ### What did the result mean for Roma supporters? Italian reports said Roma’s qualification ended a seven-year absence from the Champions League. ANSA said the win sent Roma back into “Europe’s top competition,” while Il Tempo said the club had not appeared there since the 2018-19 season. That gap gave the final whistle in Verona added weight for supporters following the club’s centenary year. (italiansoccerseriea.com) Sport Mediaset carried post-match highlights online, reflecting the immediate interest around the result and the celebrations that followed. Roma’s official website also published its own account shortly after the match, presenting the victory as confirmation of the club’s return to the Champions League. ### What comes next for Roma after the Verona win? (ansa.it) Next season, Roma will enter the Champions League league phase as one of Serie A’s qualified clubs. The final standings reported on May 24 placed Roma alongside Inter, Napoli and Como among Italy’s representatives in the competition. UEFA’s draw dates and fixture calendar for the 2026-27 tournament have not been detailed in the match reports, but Roma’s place was confirmed with the final whistle in Verona. (asroma.com) (sports.yahoo.com)