Roma in last 16 of European competitions for 11 consecutive seasons - an unparalleled achievement among Italian clubs!

After overcoming Porto for the first time in their history in a knockout stage of a European competition Roma have reached the last 16 of the Europa League. Paulo Dybala was decisive in the return leg played at the Olimpico against the Portuguese, scoring a wonderful brace. The Argentine netted two left-footed goals in Roma’s 3-2 win which saw them progress to the next round, with Niccolo Pisilli getting Roma’s other goal.

As previously mentioned, it’s now 11 seasons in a row that Roma have reached the last 16 of a European competition. An impressive feat, spread across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Not only that - in this time period Roma have been the only Italian team to win a continental trophy. Juventus, Inter, Milan, Napoli and Fiorentina – to name but a few - all failed to do so. They either didn’t manage to qualify for Europe or missed out on continental competitions entirely. We stand alone, holding a record which began against Feyenoord in 2015.

Let's cast our minds back to each one of these ties.

2014-15

After finishing third in their Champions League group Roma dropped down into the Europa League, with Rudi Garcia's Roma facing Feyenoord for the first time in the club’s history.

In the first leg at the Stadio Olimpico the Giallorossi drew 1-1 with a goal from Gervinho. However, goals from Adem Ljajic and Gervinho sealed their passage to the next round, with a 2-1 win in a cauldron-like atmosphere at the De Kuip. 

In the first and second legs, all of the goals were assisted by Vasilis Torosidis. Roma progressed to the round of 16, where they would meet Fiorentina.

2015-16

After having progressed through their Champions League group featuring Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen and Bate Borisov, Roma were then drawn against a Real Madrid side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the last 16. 

The Spaniards prevailed over two legs, but Luciano Spalletti’s side gave a great account of themselves, both home and away.

2016-17

This time around it was the Europa League. In the round of 32 Spalletti's Roma met Villarreal.

The first leg saw Roma all but seal qualification with a 4-0 thrashing at the Estadio de la Ceramica, with Edin Dzeko grabbing a hat-trick and Emerson Palmieri scoring the other Roma goal. The Brazilian-born defender opened the rout with a wonderful curling effort. Roma would go on to face Lyon in the round of 16.

2017-18

A memorable season for Roma in the Champions League. Firstly, they won a tough group featuring Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Qarabag. Then they went on to reach the semi-finals of the competition.

In the round of 16 they met Shakhtar Donetsk. In the first leg, away from home, the hosts won 2-1, but in the return leg at the Olimpico, it was a different story. Roma won 1-0, with Edin Dzeko’s goal proving decisive and Roma prevailing on the now-defunct away goals rule.

2018-19

Another Champions League campaign with Roma successfully making it out of the group. This time the Giallorossi finished behind Real Madrid and ahead of CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen.

In the round of 16 Roma were drawn to face Porto. The first leg was at the Stadio Olimpico which the Giallorossi won 2-1 with a brace from Nicolo Zaniolo. However, the Portuguese got their revenge in the second match, overcoming a spirited Roma 3-1 after extra time.

2019-20

After finishing in second place in a Europa League group featuring Istanbul Basaksehir, Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach, Roma faced Belgian side Gent in the round of 32.

In the first leg at home Paulo Fonseca's side won 1-0 with a goal from Carles Perez. The return leg ended 1-1, enough for Roma to reach the round of 16. It was the season that would be defined by the pandemic, with the competition concluding with a knockout phase in Germany in the summer. In the round of 16, Roma faced Sevilla in a one-off match and lost 2-0.

2020-21

A successful European campaign for Roma, who reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.

In the round of 32 Roma got past Braga, winning 2-0 away, followed by a 3-1 home victory in an uneventful tie. The round of 16 was also straightforward – 3-1 home and 2-1 away wins over Shakhtar Donetsk.

2021-22

It was the season of the first-ever edition of the Conference League, and Roma were the stars of the show. The Giallorossi reached the final of the tournament in Tirana, overcoming Feyenoord to claim glory.

Roma faced Vitesse in the round of 16, beating them 1-0 in the Netherlands and drawing 1-1 at the Olimpico, after winning a group featuring Bodo, Zorya Luhansk and CSKA Sofia.

2022-23

Having reached a final in Tirana the season before Roma managed to once again go nearly all of the way in Europe, reaching consecutive finals for the first time in the club’s history. This time around it was the Europa League.

The Giallorossi made the final in Budapest, overcoming many tough obstacles along the way. In the playoffs they knocked out a Salzburg side who’d dropped down from the Champions League, and in the round of 16 they overcame Real Sociedad by winning 2-0 at the Olimpico and drawing 0-0 in San Sebastian.

2023-24

In the playoffs Roma were drawn to face Feyenoord for a third consecutive season in Europe.

After Tirana in 2022 in the Conference League and the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2023 the Giallorossi once again found themselves up against Arne Slot’s side.