Gianluca Mancini’s header sealed Roma’s 1-0 victory over AC Milan in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final at the San Siro.
The defender scored from Paulo Dybala’s corner after 17 minutes to give last year’s competition runners-up a lead for next week’s second leg in Rome.
Olivier Giroud struck late on but Milan could not find a way past Roma, who they beat twice in Serie A.
Roma are aiming for their third consecutive European final.
Giallorossi manager Daniele de Rossi’s reign began after a 3-1 defeat by Milan in January saw Jose Mourinho sacked – and Roma have lost just twice in all competitions since.
The winner of the tie in Italy will face either West Ham or Bayer Leverkusen in the last four, with Xabi Alonso’s side led 2-0 after the first leg.
Roma won the 2021-22 Europa Conference League and lost last year’s Europa League final to Sevilla.
Lining up
Milan
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 16Maignan
- 2Calabria
- 46Gambia
- 28Thiaw
- 19Hernandez
- 4BennacerSubstituted forAdliin the 59′minutesReservation at 63 minutes
- 14Riders
- 11PulisicReservation at 33 minutesSubstituted forChukwuezein the 78′minutes
- 8Loftus-CheekReservation at 73 minutes
- 10Rafael LeaoSubstituted forOkaforin the 78′minutes
- 9Giroud
Substitutes
- 7Adli
- 15Jovic
- 17Okafor
- 21Chukwueze
- 24Kjær
- 38Terracciano
- 42Florenzi
- 57Sportiello
- 69Nave
- 80Muse
- 85Zeroli
- 95Bartesagi
Roma
Formation 4-3-3
- 99Svilar
- 19Steel
- 6Smalling
- 23Mancini
- 37Spinach
- 4CristanteReservation at 38 minutes
- 16ParadesSubstituted forBovein the 89′minutes
- 7PellegriniSubstituted forWowin the 89′minutes
- 92El Sarawi
- 90LukakuSubstituted forLlorentein the 90+2′minutes
- 21DybalaSubstituted forAbrahamin the 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Rui Patricio
- 2Karsdorp
- 9Abraham
- 14Llorente
- 20Renato Sanchez
- 22Wow
- 35Baldanzi
- 52Bove
- 59Zalevsky
- 63Boer
- 67and Costa Cesco
- 69Angelina
Live text
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End of match, Milan 0, Roma 1.
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End of second half, Milan 0, Roma 1.
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Foul by Olivier Giroud (Milan).
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Chris Smalling (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Milan. Contributed by Chris Smalling.
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Foul by Noah Okafor (Milan).
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Diego Llorente (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Change, Roma. Diego Llorente replaces Romelu Lukaku.
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Corner, Milan. Courtesy of Edoardo Bove.
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Attempt blocked. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Milan) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. With the help of Tijjani Reijnders.
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Change, Roma. Edoardo Bove replaces Leandro Paredes.
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Change, Roma. Houshem Awar replaces Lorenzo Pellegrini.
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Noah Okafor (Milan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Chris Smalling (Roma).
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Olivier Giroud (Milan) hits the post with a right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box. With the help of Samuel Chukwueze.
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Attempt failure. Samuel Chukwueze (Milan) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
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Corner, Milan. Contributed by Chris Smalling.
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Attempt failure. Matteo Gabbia (AC Milan) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
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Change, Roma. Tammy Abraham replaces Paulo Dybala.
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Attempt failure. Noah Okafor (Milan) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Samuel Chukwueze with a cross.