It was a night to remember for Viktoria Plzeň, who stunned AS Roma 2–1 at the Stadio Olimpico in the UEFA Europa League on October 23, 2025. The victory not only kept the Czech side unbeaten in the competition but also handed Roma their third defeat in four games, deepening the club’s growing crisis.
Softfootball reports that under interim boss Martin Hyský, Plzeň came out swinging. After surviving an early scare when Artem Dovbyk tested the defence, they punished Roma’s complacency in the 20th minute. Prince Kwabena Adu muscled past Jan Ziółkowski and slotted home from a tight angle to put the visitors ahead, and the shock didn’t stop there.
Just two minutes later, Cheick Souaré made it 2–0 with an absolute rocket from 25 yards, a low left-footed strike that left Mile Svilar frozen to the spot. The home crowd fell silent as Plzeň’s players celebrated wildly.
Roma looked shaken, producing little in response before halftime, aside from a Mario Hermoso header that was easily saved. In a desperate attempt to spark a comeback, Gian Piero Gasperini made changes at the break, bringing on Stephan El Shaarawy for Ziółkowski.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 54th minute when Niccolò Pisilli was fouled inside the box by Václav Jemelka. Paulo Dybala stepped up and buried the penalty to mark his 200th career goal, giving Roma a glimmer of hope, then Roma sent in summer signing from Aston Villa Leon Bailey to try to change the course of the game, but it wasn’t to be.
The Giallorossi pressed hard afterward, with El Shaarawy, Matìas Soulè, and Leon Bailey all coming close, but goalkeeper Martin Jedlička was in inspired form, pulling off four crucial saves to deny them.
Viktoria Plzeň boasted after the victory that they have captured Rome in a cheeky post made via their official X account.
They Posted:
Despite 66.7% possession and 20 attempted shots, Roma simply lacked sharpness. A late Pisilli goal was rightly ruled offside, and Plzeň held firm to claim a famous away win, leaving Roma stranded on just three points from two Europa League matches. It’s fair to say the Czech side came, saw, and conquered at the Olimpico.
