Almeida lofts a final cross into the Roma box, as Qarabag counter again - and Alisson reads it superbly to pick it out above the melee of opposition players who pile up for a last chance on goal. That's all - the referee blows for full-time and Roma are into the knockout stages of the Champions League!
90'
Dzeko's not having the best of nights for Roma, in spite of his efforts. Most of his side's 18 shots on goal have come from his boot, and he is unable to get the better of Sehic once again with a tame effort. Two added minutes on the way.
88'
J. Rzeźniczak gets yellow.
It's a poor effort from Gerson to try and connect and Rzezniczak has no trouble mopping up.
And now Rzeźniczak gets a booking for a cumbersome tackle on Pellegrini who seems to be doing much more writihing than is strictly necessary on the ground.
87'
That could have been the final nail in Qarabag's hopes of a draw! Kolarov breaks loose on the left, goes 30 yards, slip into the box and sees Sehic just tip his low, powerful effort wide. Corner to Roma.
86'
As things stand, Roma's win will actually send them through top of Group C, providing Chelsea remain level with Atletico as opposed to winning. That will prove handy if they land in the top half of the draw.
85'
A. Ramazanov enters the game and replaces M. Emreli.
R. Şeydayev enters the game and replaces D. Ndlovu.
... and Mədətov makes way for Agabala Ramazanov.
Two more changes now as Ndlovu is replaced by Ramil Şeydayev...
83'
Oh my word, heart-in-mouth there for Roma! Guerrier picks his way through the home defence in a rare counter and swings in a cross to Michel who heads it for the botom left corner, forcing Alisson to scramble to stop. Qarabag suddenly came alive there for a moment.
81'
L. Pellegrini enters the game and replaces D. Perotti.
Lorenzo Pellegrini is the latest change for the hosts, taking the place of goalscorer Perotti.
80'
Good news for Roma though - Chelsea are back on level footing with Atletico Madrid in London, thanks to a Savic own goal. Hold out for the win here and the hosts are through.
79'
The back winger gets it over the wall with a wonderful lift, only for the dip to swing a little wide and into the hands of Sehic. Good effort, though - Qarabag are looking more tired and sloppy round the rear.
Minute
Description
78'
Roma get a free kick now, only 23 yards out from goal and pretty much bang in front after a flying trip from Madatov. Kolarov to take...
76'
Dani Quintana enters the game and replaces Ə. İsmayılov.
Daniel Quintana now takes to the field to replace Ismayilov for Qarabag.
75'
Dzeko pushes through the back four once more, encroaching on the Qarabag box - and again, in a freak echo of earlier, slips as he goes to shoot, the ball trickling to Sehic instead.
74'
Now Gerson gets in on the action, slipping back inside two defenders and launching a shot on goal, only for a deflection of Yunuszada to send the ball out for a throw downfield.
73'
Florenzi steals Guerrier's pocket twice in quick succession, only for both his crosses - a lob and a flat effort - to be palmed out by Sehic away from the goal-mouth.
72'
Gerson enters the game and replaces S. El Shaarawy.
Gerson is the first change in earnest of the night, as he replaces El Shasrawy, who has faded somewhat in the last 20 minutes up front as a threat.
70'
Some movement on the Roma bench as they look to make changes for the closing stages. Florenzi floats a cross into the box looking for Perotti, but only finds Rzezniczak.
68'
It's another lapse at the back from Qarabag, as Dzeko is allowed to run free down the right again, only this time, Madatov doubles back fast enough to clip his stride and pinch possession.
66'
Update from elsewhere in Group C - Atletico have the lead at Stamford Bridge. As it stands, Roma are still going through, but they will definitely be looking for that second score now to kill off any chance of a leveller.
64'
Dzeko sneaks through the back four once more and pops a shot off from the edge of the box that Sehic drops to deal with. Qarabag have got nowhere near the opposition half, let alone the box, for ages - Roma are turning on the pressure to find that second goal and all but assure progression.
62'
What a shot from Nainggolan! Played out back from the corner, he takes it on the right foot, plays it to his left and launches a half-volley that blows through the defence and sends Sehic sprawling to stop it. Another corner to the hosts.
61'
E. Yunuszadə gets yellow.
E. Džeko gets yellow.
...as well as Yunuszadə, who complains very loudly about the decision.
The corner is taking a long time, mostly due to an outbreak of discipline issues in the box. The referee calls over Dzeko and books him for his part...
59'
Another corner for Roma now, which Perotti puts wide and long over the box for Florenzi to cross back in. It almost pays off - and only a Madatov header to clear over the goal deals with the danger. Second corner incoming.
57'
Míchel gets yellow.
Michel gets a booking now for a sharp tackle on Perotti - and the Qarabag man is very unhappy, remonstrating with both the goalscorer and the referee for a prolonged period.
55'
With Atletico still unable to put a goal past Chelsea, that could be the score that sees Roma through to the knockout stages. Qarabag look devestated by that - they've held off a relentless, if cluttered attack from the hosts for the best part of the hour and have conceded off a lucky deflection here.
53'
D. Perotti has scored a goal for Roma!
Perotti breaks the deadlock! It's from his pass into the box, for Dzeko to slip onto and strike flatly into the leg of Sehic from eight yards out, that rebounds high enough and sharp enough to the left for the striker to squeak a tight header past the near left post and into the bottom corner. Well-worked and well-earned.
52'
Every Roma player is rushing forward now as they look to find the goal that will secure safe passage. El Shaarawy goes close on the right, trying to poke an effort through, only for Almeida to double back and shuffle it out wide to the wing.
50'
Are Qarabag still playing with ten men? They appear to have returned to 11 now, and with no substitution made, it's safe to assume that it's the player - still unidentified - taken off earlier with what looked like a thigh strain. Roma no longer have that man-up advantage.
48'
Naninggolan puts a strike on from 25 yards out on the right, looking to slip it through to the bottom left corner - and he almost does, with Sehic tumbling to stop it.
46'
We're back underway in Italy, and Qarabag are back on the defensive straight, away, with Guerrier and Madatov both forced to hustle the ball away from immediate danger. Roma are throwing the kitchen sink at them straight out of the gate.
45' +3
It's a last chance corner for the first half with Perotti curls in. It beats all and Qarabag think they're safe - only for Nainggolan to strike from the right edge of the box. It takes a deflection off Sehic and Yunuszada clears - into Strootman, with the deflection heading for the bottom left corner and forcing the keeper to dive again to save. That's all for the first half - and what a frantic final minute that was!
45' +2
That's another monster chance for Dzeko gone begging - he cuts neatly back inside with a side step round two defenders and launches a 20 yard shot aimed at the top left corner - only to miss by a good few metres to the side and above.
45'
Three added minutes are on the way as Yususzada is bulldozed down to the ground. Free-kick in their own half to Qarabag.
44'
Corner now for Roma - who are looking more and more frustrated up front too with their inability to find the net. It swings in well from Perotti for Dzeko - and once again, his effort is steered wide of the mark, out by the far right post.
43'
It's a flat effort, steered in by Perotti, and Guerrier comes up with the ball cleanly in a neat piece of work to clear for the moment.
42'
D. Guerrier gets yellow.
Another free-kick in scoring distance for Roma now, on the back-left edge of the Qarabag box after Guerrier slides into the ankles of El Shaarawy. It's a booking for the defender too with that clumsy challenge.
40'
It's a fine strike, and goes straight to Dzeko over the wall - yet Sehic reads it fabulously to pick out his header to the top-left corner and collect.
38'
Free kick for the hosts - and only 20 yards out from the box on the left wing too after Kolarov is fouled. The defender himself will take...
36'
Are Qarabag still playing with ten men? It looks like it. This is surely not normal, to have not made a change. Michel pushes forward for the visitors but he doesn't find the pass he wants up front and Roma's defence outmuscle him.
34'
Two very quick chances for Roma again, both for Dzeko, as he first sees a header slip beyond Sehic only to be hacked out for a corner at the death by desperate defending - and then the corner that swings in for his attempted half-volley goes straight to the keeper's gloves.
32'
Almeida goes close! On the counter, Qarabag unexpectedly pile men into the Roma box and a sharp flick across from the right to centre tees up the midfielder to launch a shot of his own over the face of goal, lifting it just above the bar.
31'
Indeed, it looks like Qarabag are playing with ten men for the moment. Dzeko looks to immediately press the advantage and feeds a neat back-pass in the box to El Shaarawy after cutting open the defence, only to for the latter to blow it well wide and over.
29'
Another stoppage in play now, as a Qarabag player - unidentified at this moment - recieves treatment and is then removed from the field by medical staff. There appears to be no replacement...
27'
Dzeko looks to head a lobbed ball from De Rossi past Sehic, only to direct his effort to the turf instead, with the bounce landing favourably for the keeper. Down the other end, Madatov gets a neat delivery that gives him space to run into the Roma box on the left, and he is only just squeaked out by tight work from Manolas.
25'
What on earth was Sehic doing there?! The Qarabg keeper races off his line to the left edge of his box to meet El Shaarawy on a breakaway run and entirely misses the ball in his block, allowing the Roma man to slot it towards goal. He doesn't get the power and Yususzana, recovered now, gets back in time to leather it away.
24'
A brief stoppage now as Yunuszada recieves treatment after a slight knock.
22'
Great save from Sehic! The Qarabag keeper gets fingertips to a flat, smart cross from Perotti to push it beyond Dzeko and back into open play - and then the visitors time a superb long counter-pass to Ndlovu, who breaks free of the last but one defender and lofts a shot for the top left corner that Alisson leaps to stop.
20'
El Shaarawy latches onto a long ball lofted over the defence by Strootman, and puts a shot on Sehic that the keeper dives right to tip away - only for the linesman's flag to render the shot null and void for offside.
19'
Michel has a ghost of a chance now, nipping through the Roma back for on the centre-right edge with a nifty bit of footwork, only for his tame finish to go straight to the keeper.
17'
Played short through two passes, the corner comes in flat for Dzeko on the right edge of the box this time - and he absolutely skies it, sending it wailing over the goal and into the stands.
16'
Corner again for Roma now, after Guerrier mistjudges a back-pass and is forced to clear.
14'
Two more chances for Dzeko, with a great bit of individual flair too; he breaks loose 25 yards out and steers into the left side of the box, beating Sehic only to take a deflection of Rzezniczak - and then from the short corner played in by Manolas, he tries a neat backheel that only goes to the safe hands of the keeper.
13'
That was a chance that went begging! Dzeko was gifted a wonderful pass to set him up with a defender either side and only the keeper to beat 20 yards out - only for the Roma forward to slip and his shot to skitter softly to Sehic.
12'
Free kick to Qarabag in their back-left corner after El Shaarawy clatters Guerrier whilst challenging for possession.
10'
De Rossi looks to play flat and wide to his left as Roma look to cut around the opposition defence again and eventually opts to put a short central lob for Dzeko to chase. It bounces kindly for Sehic, but the keeper nearly bobbles it back to the striker before collecting.
8'
El Shaarawy is harrying that right flank and the Qarabag back four quite consistently already, it must be said. The Roma man has scored two goals in two Champions League starts already this year.
6'
Down the other end, Ismayilov is fed a lovely long ball from centre-field by Almeida, and he is given space to turn it into the Roma box and across the face of goal; it skips between two defenders and out of range for Ndlovu to get to before Florenzi whips it away.
4'
Now Kolarov looks to turn a sharp ball in from the left edge now, curling it back into the Qarabag box - except he is just out over the line with possession and a goal kick is awarded.
2'
El Shaarawy ferries the ball down the right wing and puts a cross into the box for Dzeko, only for Rzezniczak to header away. Moments later, El Shaarawy is back down the same flank, chasing a long ball lofted by De Rossi - Sehic comes off his line to the edge of the eighteen-yard area to claim safely.
1'
The teams are out in Italy, Roma will kick us off... El Shaarawy taps back and we're underway in the final round of Champions League group matches!
Hello, and welcome to the final gameweek of the group stages of the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League, as Roma look to secure progression to the knockout stages against Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag in the Italian capital. The hosts know that victory will see them qualify for the round of 16; any other outcome could see Atletico Madrid sneak through, dependent on their result against Chelsea. Will The Yellow and Reds have easy passage – or will their Baku-based opponents prove a banana skin and send them to the Europa League instead? Kick-off is just around the corner.
In their first ever Champions League campaign proper, Qarabag have endured a less-than-memorable campaign; but two draws against Atletico have left them in the position to play kingmaker in Group C. If they hold Roma to a draw and Atletico beat Chelsea, then the Spanish outfit will progress instead, with the Italian team dropping to Europe’s second-tier competition for the remainder of the season. For their opposition, fingers will be crossed that the Blues go undefeated tonight in London; The Red-and-Whites must win to stand a chance of qualification regardless of Roma’s result.
Last time out, when the pair met, Roma held off a second-half showing to prevail 2-1 in Azerbaijan against their spirited opponents; and backed with home advantage, they will feel that they can seal the deal with room to spare. They are yet to conceded on their own turf in the Champions League this season and, coupled with the fact no Azeri club has ever come up trumps against an Italian side in European competition, they will be hopeful of this being a mere formality of a match to see them through.
Across their maiden adventure in Europe’s top-end competition, Qarabag have posted the smallest number of shots on target, only mustering eight serious cracks at goal across five games – the lowest in the tournament. They’ve also picked up a red card in each of the last three games due to ill-discipline; only Bordeaux in 2000 and Juventus in 2001 can match that rather unsavoury record. Conversely, Roma have the best discipline overall across the 32 teams in action – with only four cards in five games to show.
ROMA (4-3-3): Alisson, Fazio, Kolarov, Manolas, Florenzi, De Rossi, Nainggolan, Strootman, Dzeko, Perotti, El Shaarawy
Roma will be very frustrated with that first-half; eight shots to Qarabag's two, and against ten men for a prolonged period. Their opposition will conversely be happy with the hosts' inability to close out moves up front - and will take heart from their current scoreline. With Atletico currently also goalless at Chelsea, Roma are still heading through - but they will need a goal to assure some comfort soon. At half-time, it's Roma 0-0 Qarabag.
Roma make it back into the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2016, thanks to a tight header from Deigo Perotti - and as Chelsea and Atletico wind up with the spoils shared in London, they top Group C too, going into that first pot for the draw. Qarabag's maiden jaunt in the Champions League is over - but they will be happy to have held the eventual group winners at bay for so long, especially after a disrupted first half. Full-time in Italy, it finishes Roma 1-0 Qarabag.
With their victory, Roma become one of two Italian sides to have already qualified for the round of 16, alongside Juventus, who finished runners-up in Group D. Their first-place finish means they will avoid some big guns, like PSG, Barcelona and Manchester United - yet the chance of a match-up with reigning champions Real Madrid still looms large. Until then however, thank you for joining us - and have a good week!
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