It was a game involving two teams with different ambitions as Real Sociedad welcomed A.S Roma to the Reale Arena, Donosta – San Sébastian in Spain.
The Spanish side went into the clash with a 4-3-1-2 formation as the manager intended for his team to control the course of the game by their game play.
The starting lineup for the encounter went as thus; Alex Remiro, Diego Rico, Robin Le Normand, Igor Zubeldia, Andoni Gorosabel, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Brais Mendez, David Silva, Mikel Oyarzaba and Alexander Solorth.
For Jose Mourinho, he set up his boys in a 5-3-2 formation with Rui Patricio in goal, Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, Karsdrop, Ibanez and Spinazzola in defence.
Georginio Wijnaldum started in the heart of midfield, partnered by Pellegrini the captain and Cristante. In attack for A.S Roma were Paulo Dybala and Andrea Belloti.
The side from Rome in Italy came into the game with a 2-0 lead after a first leg victory at the Sadio Olimpico courtesy of goals from El Shaarawy and Kumbulla in the dying embers of the encounter.
And in the second leg of this Europa League clash, Mourinho set up his Roma side hell-bent on frustrating the resolve of the Real Sociedad side restricting them to less shots that would go direct at Patricio.
The first half was keenly contested
The first half was filled with more yellow cards than real offensive chances as in the 6th minute Gianluca Mancini picked up the first yellow card in the game for a foul on Pellegrini.
7 minutes later, Igor Zubeldia was cautioned with a yellow card after tripping Spinazzola at the close to the 18 yard box.
The biggest chance of the first half fell to A.S Roma on the 15th minute as Roma took a free kick short and it located the feet of Paulo Dybala who smashed a low instant shot but it went wide off the far post.
Roma also had their name shown on the booking list as Gianluca Mancini picked up a yellow card for pulling the shirt of his opponent.
Mancini tried to be confrontational with the referee and that earned him a yellow card in the game.
In the 39th minute, Rico of Real Sociedad was booked after his shoulder hit the face of Karsdorp with the player falling to the ground in pain.
Jose Mourinho sent Nicola Zalewski onto the field, Nicola Zalewski replaced the injured Rick Karsdrop a few minutes later.
A minute into additional time of the first half, Chris Smalling thought he had taken his side into the lead but the VAR referee chalked off the goal due to the Englishman having contact with the ball with his hand.
The first half ended even-steven and both sides had plenty to think about during the interval.
How the second half of proceedings in the UEFA Europa League clash between Real Sociedad and Roma went
A massive chance fell to Real Sociedad and it was a strong header from Solorth who was not marked in the area but his effort went wide of the goal.
Real Sociedad continued to push with them having the larger share of the possession but Roma were confident in the defensive play as customary with a Jose Mourinho led side.
In the 62nd minute, Carlos Fernandez was brought on to replace Alexander Solorth and a few minutes later, Real Sociedad had a great chance but they couldn’t score as Oyarzabal went free from the defender marking him to direct a shot at Rui Patricio.
Rui Patricio saved and it came back at Oyarzabal who couldn’t bury the chance into an open net as he struck it to the bar.
Takefusa Kubo in the 71st minute came on for Mikel Oyarzabal and Alex Sola replaced Andoni Gorosabel with Imanol Alguacil sending two substitutes onto the field.
3 minutes later, Real Sociedad came knocking once again with a header from Zubeldia but his attempt went wide.
El Shaarawy replaced Paulo Dybala on the 75th minute alongside another substitution which saw Tammy Abraham replace Andrea Belloti.
The manager of Real Sociedad, Imanol Alguacil also responded to Jose Mourinho’s changes as he brought on Mohammed-Ali Cho for Brais Mendez.
In the 87th minute, the Italian club introduced Edoardo Lorenzo for Lorenzo Pellegrini and in that same minute Carlos Fernandez was given a yellow card for a foul.
Later on in additional time, after 8 minutes played, Carlos Fernandez was sent off as he was served another yellow card which automatically means a Red Card.
He got his marching orders after going into a squabble with Chris Smalling, Smalling was also served a yellow card for engaging in heated conversations with Fernandez.
It ended in Spain with A.S Roma going ahead into the quarter-final after defeating Real Sociedad by 2-0 on aggregate. The victory at the Sadio Olimpico was enough to ensure passage for Jose Mourinho’s men to the next round.
The match highlights in full below:
