Roma 3-0 Trabzonspor: Zaniolo helps send side into group stage

Leading 2-1 after last week's first leg in Turkey, the Giallorossi were never in any real danger throughout the return leg at the Stadio Olimpico - although goalkeeper Rui Patricio did make a couple of spectacular saves to confirm the clean sheet that would have always guaranteed progression.

Jose Mourinho's side did better than that, though - as goals from Bryan Cristante, Zaniolo and substitute Stephan El Shaarawy wrapped up a resounding 5-1 aggregate success.

The draw for the group stage of the new European competition takes place on Friday.

If the lack of the away goals this season in UEFA competitions rendered Roma's first leg advantage marginally less secure, then any moderate discomfort was further removed when Bryan Cristante hammered home a trademark low strike midway through the first half to give his side the lead.

Trabzonspor at that point were pushing forward determinedly, and occasionally even creating problems for Mourinho's charges. But Rui Patricio was alert to them at every turn, making decisive saves at key moments to keep the tie well in hand.

When Nicolo Zaniolo scored midway through the second half, then, the roars around the ground were not just because the tie had been clinched - that was already essentially true. They were more for the player himself, who looked visibly emotional as he celebrated his first goal in more than a year, and his first since overcoming a second ACL surgery.

From that moment onwards Roma were in cruise control, and Mourinho was able to make a few changes to his side too. One of those, El Shaarawy, responded with a late goal that added a further gloss to proceedings.

ROMA 3-0 TRABZONSPOR (5-1 AGG.)

SCORERS: Cristante (20'), Zaniolo (65'), El Shaarawy (84')

ROMA (4-2-3-1): Rui Patricio; Karsdorp, Mancini, Ibanez, Vina; Cristante, Veretout (Villar); Zaniolo (El Shaarawy), Pellegrini, Mkhitaryan (Perez); Abraham (Shomurodov)

TRABZONSPOR (4-3-3): Cakir; Peres (Serkan), Edgar, Vitor Hugo, Trondsen (Ismail); Bakasetas, Siopis (Yusuf), Hamsik; Gervinho (Omur), Cornelius (Djaniny), Nwakaeme