On March 13, 2025, Athletic Bilbao hosted AS Roma at San Mamés Stadium for the second leg of the Europa League Round of 16. The match concluded with Athletic triumphing over Roma with a score of 3-1, resulting in a 4-3 aggregate win for the Spanish side, who overcame the 2-1 loss sustained during the first leg at Stadio Olimpico.
The clash was intense right from the start. Just 11 minutes in, Roma was dealt a significant blow when Mats Hummels received a straight red card for a foul against Athletic's Maroan Sannadi. This incident left the Italian side with ten players and proved to be pivotal as they struggled to contain the relentless attacks from their opponents.
Despite Roma's efforts, Athletic seized the opportunity and began their assault. It was Nico Williams who put the home team on the scoreboard at the end of the first half, scoring during added time. He expertly capitalized on a rebound off Anhelinio's misplay, giving Athletic momentum headed toward the second half.
After halftime, the energy remained high. Athletic maintained their pressure, and 67 minutes in, Yuri Berchiche scored with a well-placed effort following Unai Nunes' assist, sending the crowd at San Mamés roaring as the score progressed to 2-0.
Williams wasn’t done yet; he netted his second goal of the match on the 82nd minute, effectively sealing the fate of Roma with Athletic now on top 3-0. There was, of course, still time for drama. Roma managed to score their solitary goal during the third minute of added time when Leandro Paredes converted from the penalty spot, but it was too late for the visitors.
The match concluded at 3-1, giving Athletic Bilbao the aggregate advantage of 4-3. This result secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, where they will face Fenerbahçe from Turkey, who are vying to advance against Rangers of Scotland.
Artem Dovbyk from Roma started the match and played for 53 minutes before being substituted for Matías Suárez. While he was impactful during the match, the team's diminished ranks following Hummels' dismissal proved too great of an obstacle for Roma.
Historically, the first leg had seen Roma come out victorious, thanks to Eldor Shomurodov's last-minute goal, which had set the stage for what fans expected to be another tightly matched battle between these fierce competitors. With both teams having high stakes and ambition, the anticipation for this second leg was palpable.
Before the match, bookmakers offered Athletic around 50% chances to win, with expectations set lower for Roma. The overall narrative showed Athletic fighting back against early odds, particularly after their struggle against Mallorca shortly before the second leg. They only managed to secure a draw against Mallorca, yet their focus remained sharp on the Europa League.
Notably, even with Roma’s stronger recent form—having won their last six games across all competitions prior to this clash—the red card impacted the dynamics of the game considerably, proving to be detrimental.
Now, as Athletic focuses on their quarter-final preparation, they will be buoyed by their success against Roma, with optimism surrounding their chances of advancing even farther this season. The match against Fenerbahçe promises to be just as fiercely contested as this recently concluded battle.
Both teams have shown their strengths throughout the tournament, and Athletic’s latest victory serves as both motivation and validation of their capabilities. Fans eagerly await what lies next for Athletic and their quest for European glory.