In a stunning turn of events at the Stadio Olimpico, Lille pulled off a historic victory over Roma in the Europa League, winning 1-0 on Thursday night. The match, part of the second league phase day, saw the French side cling to their lead through sheer grit, especially thanks to goalkeeper Berke Ozer's unbelievable heroics in the dying minutes. Indeed, Ozer saved three consecutive penalties, a feat that's already making headlines across Europe and leaving Roma fans in disbelief.
Roma, riding high after their opening win against Bodø/Glimt, dominated possession early on but struggled to break through Lille's compact defense. The visitors, fresh from beating Slovan Bratislava, struck first in the 22nd minute when Jonatan Haraldsson found the net with a clinical finish, his shot curling past Roma's keeper Mile Svilar. From there, it was all about survival for Paulo Fonseca's men. However, the real drama unfolded in stoppage time. Roma was awarded three penalties in quick succession—controversial calls that had the home crowd roaring—but Ozer, the 20-year-old Turkish shot-stopper, denied Artem Dovbyk, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Paulo Dybala one after another. What a sequence. It was almost cruel, watching Roma's stars crumble under the pressure.
This result marks Lille's first-ever win on Roma's turf in European competition, boosting their campaign to a perfect six points from two games. For AS Roma, under Claudio Ranieri's guidance in his second stint, it's a bitter setback; they're now fourth in the standings with three points, and questions will linger about their finishing in big moments. Moreover, the penalties highlight ongoing VAR debates in UEFA competitions—were they all justified? Lille's midfielder Lucas Bouaddi shone in the engine room, dictating play and frustrating the Italians at every turn.
Indeed, Fonseca praised his team's resilience post-match, calling it "an exploit for the ages," while Ranieri admitted his side paid the price for wastefulness. As both clubs push for knockout spots in this revamped format, Lille's underdog spirit could carry them far, but Roma will need to regroup quickly for their next Serie A test.
With the Europa League still in its infancy, such upsets remind us how unpredictable the beautiful game can be.