Roma into Europa League quarter-finals with 23% possession

The match soon heated up with a scuffle between fans of the two teams. According to Football Italy, extremist fans of Sociedad attacked the bus carrying tifosi Roma. Some people were said to want to get out of the car to retaliate against the extremist group of Sociedad fans, but the police soon arrived to solve the matter. News site ForzRoma.info reported that at least two Roma fans and many Sociedad fans were arrested.

Roma won 2-0 in the first leg thanks to Stephan El Shaarawy, Marash Kumbulla and came to Anoeta with the strongest squad. The Italian representative was only absent Diego Llorente and Nemanja Matic, while captain Lorenzo Pellegrini had to play with a head guard. The 26-year-old midfielder collided head-on with Igor in the first leg, required 30 stitches and missed the 2-3 defeat to Sassuolo in the 26th round of Serie A last weekend.

Then, Sociedad took the full initiative and created suffocating pressure. However, the home's shots were inaccurate or failed to beat goalkeeper Rui Patricio. The best opportunity came in the 68th minute, Oyarzabal finished close to the wall at Patricio's position and then kicked the bar.

After the match, Mourinho said Sociedad played risky to turn the situation and had ambition to score in the first 15-20 minutes, and praised Roma for giving their all and defending firmly. He emphasized not to direct Roma to death, as demonstrated by Stephan El Shaarawy and Tammy Abraham coming into the field in the second half. The "special person" also wants to thank the Roma fans - who were "locked in a cage of suffering with the whole team" when coming to the field to watch the match live.

Mourinho was proud when Roma eliminated two strong clubs RB Salzburg and Real Sociedad in the knockout stages to reach the quarter-finals. After that, the Portuguese coach harshly criticized UEFA for the format of the Europa League - where the clubs had to meet quality opponents who finished third in the Champions League group stage. "There are clubs that in my opinion should not play the Europa League," said Mourinho. "They should be eliminated from the Champions League, instead of being relegated to the Europa League. So it makes no sense for a club to be knocked out of the Champions League and win the Europa League."

In the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Roma can meet Leverkusen, Feyenoord, Juventus, Man Utd, Sevilla, Union SG or Sporting with the draw taking place today 17/3.