AS Roma will have to battle a team that finished third in the UEFA Champions League after failing to win their group despite a comfortable 3-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol.

Finishing behind Slavia Prague in their group means the Giallorossi settle for a Europa League play-off spot.
Romelu Lukaku who joined Roma on a loan deal from Chelsea in the summer continues to set records in the competition. The former Inter Milan striker has scored 20 goals in 17 Europa League games.

He has also scored 20 goals in 24 appearances for club and country this season.
Lukaku opened the goal account for Jose Mourinho’s side in the 11th-minute lead before Andrea Belotti added another before half-time.

Lukaku then set up Niccolo Pisilli for an injury-time third goal as the hosts ran out comfortable winners.
Czech side Slavia Prague beat Servette 4-0 to win the group and go straight into the last 16.

Roma which lost last season’s final to Sevilla on penalties will hope to get a less tougher opponent.
The Stadio Olimpico outfit will know their fate on Monday ahead of the knockout draw that will be held in Nyon Switzerland. They are not expected to play against fellow Italian side, AC Milan that were relegated to Europa after finishing third in their Champions League group.

As it stands, Roma could face any of the following teams: Galatasaray, Lens, SC Braga, Benfica, Feyenoord, Young Boys and Shakhtar Donetsk.

The two-legged play-off will be played on February 14 and 22, 2024.

The winners will then go into the Round round of 16 scheduled for March.

Meanwhile, Lukaku’s record stands out as no one has scored more goals in the tournament this season than the former Chelsea and Manchester United forward has netted five times in six games.

Lukaku had in October scored in his 14th consecutive Europa League match when Roma defeated Slavia Prague 2-0.
Although he was unable to find the net in his side’s subsequent Europa League tie in Prague, but has since scored once in each of Roma’s past two European matches.