Hellas Verona’s three-season stay in Serie A is over. A 2-0 defeat at home to AS Roma on the final matchday confirmed their relegation to Serie B, a fate that had been coming for months given their 21-point tally. Roma, meanwhile, finished third in the table with 73 points, locking in Champions League football for next season after goals from Donyell Malen and Stephan El Shaarawy settled a one-sided afternoon in Verona.
Key Moments
- 50′, Verona reduced to ten men: Nicolas Valentini, already on a yellow card from the 35th minute, picked up a second booking for a foul, leaving the hosts with an hour to play down a man.
- 54′, VAR confirmed a penalty for Roma after a foul on Jan Ziolkowski, setting up the game’s opening goal.
- 56′, Donyell Malen converted from the spot to put Roma ahead, the penalty coming just two minutes after the VAR review.
- 90′, Stephan El Shaarawy wrapped up the win in stoppage time with a second goal, putting the final score beyond doubt.
Tactical Breakdown
Roma dominated from the first whistle. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side finished with 67% possession, completed 511 of 582 passes (88%), and generated an xG of 3.36 against Verona’s 0.77. With 19 total shots to Verona’s 8, the scoreline arguably flattered the hosts, whose goalkeeper kept the game goalless until the hour mark with five saves.
Valentini’s red card on 50 minutes changed the dynamic of what had been a stubborn if one-sided first half. Roma had already made two half-time substitutions, and with the numerical advantage confirmed, the match opened up quickly. The penalty that Malen converted two minutes after Valentini’s dismissal was the moment that settled the contest. Gasperini introduced Matias Soule around the 72nd minute to add further width as the game wound down.
For Verona, the afternoon summed up their season. Three yellow cards, a red card, 12 fouls conceded, and just 33% possession told the story of a team that rarely controlled matches in 2025-26. Only three wins in 38 Serie A games sealed their fate long before this final day.
Player Ratings
Verdict
Roma finish third in Serie A with 73 points, three clear of fourth-place Como, securing Champions League group-stage football. It is a significant turnaround under Gasperini and sets up an ambitious summer. Hellas Verona, on the other hand, drop into Serie B after a season in which they won just three matches, finishing with 21 points and a goal difference of minus 36.