ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 23: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma scores his team’s first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between AS Roma and FC Viktoria Plzen at Stadio Olimpico on October 23, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Roma suffered their second consecutive Europa League defeat, their third in four competitive games, as Paulo Dybala was not enough to recover from a nightmare start to Viktoria Plzen.
The Giallorossi were coming off two defeats in their last three games, to Lille and Inter, missing a last-gasp penalty in that Europa League tie. Angelino was still out with bronchitis, but Jan Ziolkowski received his first start for the club. Viktoria Plzen had Merchas Doski suspended, with former Udinese striker Matej Vydra, Jiri Maxim Panos and Matej Valenta injured. They were unbeaten in the competition, drawing 1-1 with Ferencvaros and beating Malmo 3-0.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Artem Dovbyk stung the goalkeeper’s gloves within 49 seconds, but Plzen responded with Prince Adu’s volley onto the side-netting.
After a couple of Matias Soulé attempts, including one smothered by the goalkeeper, it was Plzen who broke the deadlock when Adu shrugged off Ziolkowski to get away down the left, beating Mile Svilar from a tricky angle.
What. A. Hit. 🚀
Things go from bad to worse for Roma as Cheick Souare doubles the lead for Viktoria Plzen in the Italian capital 💥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/PcMJ5OCTbS
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 23, 2025
Moments later it was 2-0, as Cheick Souaré gathered from outside the area and smashed a ferocious daisy-cutter into the far bottom corner with power and precision.
Roma were really struggling, so Gian Piero Gasperini took a strong decision and hauled off Ziolkowski just 30 minutes into his first start, introducing Stephan El Shaarawy for a total tactical reshuffle.
El Shaarawy did get a shot on target, albeit accidentally charged down by teammate Dovbyk, then saw another volley well parried by the goalkeeper.
That move continued, ending with a Niccolò Pisilli header that was charged down by the flailing arm of Vaclav Jemelka in the six-yard box. The VAR review and penalty were inevitable, with Dybala calmly rolling into the bottom corner, sending Martin Jedlicka the wrong way. It was his 200th career goal between club and country, but also a much-needed penalty after the chaotic errors against Lille.
Pisilli scuffed his finish at the back post when off balance, then El Shaarawy’s curler flashed wide of the far stick and Soulé fired over from the edge of the area.
Leon Bailey cut inside from the right and bent a wonderful left-foot finish inches wide of the far post from a long way out.
Deep into stoppages, Evan N’Dicka’s header was straight at the goalkeeper from a Dybala corner.
Pisilli did have the ball in the net, but was visibly offside after a free kick routine and ball over the top.
Roma 1-2 Viktoria Plzen
Adu 20 (V), Soaré 23 (V), Dybala pen 54 (R)
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