Ruthless Roma send Stuttgart home pointless

Fourth in the Bundesliga took on their Serie A counterparts in a fitting setting at the Stadio Olimpico, with both Roma and Stuttgart looking to jump into the top eight of the Europa League ahead of the final round of fixtures. 

Stuttgart would start well, with Maximilian Mittelstädt sending the first effort towards goal in the second minute, though his powerful strike from the edge of the box would fly into the Roman air. 

Though it marked the intent of the visitors, who looked to grasp control of the early moments.

Both Finn Jeltsch and Ramon Hendriks were keen to drive from their respective outside centre-back positions, with the pair both embarking on powerful runs through the middle of the park, before Jamie Leweling would force Mile Svilar into a strong save just after the half-hour mark.

Roma would continue to grow into the encounter on home soil, with Matias Soule sending two efforts over the bar in the 19th minute. 

The Argentine had been the most lively individual for the hosts in the early stages, and he would play a huge part as the Giallorossi took the lead five minutes before the break. 

The 22-year-old would play a lovely outside-foot ball into the channel, finding the onrushing Niccolo Pisilli, who pushed the ball into the corner of Alexander Nübel's goal after being able to run free into acres of space. 

After a positive start from VfB, it would be Roma who finished the half on top - the immediate goal for Sebastian Hoeneß's men was to get to the pause just the one goal down.

Somewhat mirroring the first half, it would be Stuttgart who started on top in the second, with Deniz Undav forcing Svilar into a big one-on-one save just over a minute after play resumed. 

Though Roma would grow into this half much quicker, with both Soule and Evan Ferguson sending efforts towards goal quickly after.

Undav would miss a huge chance for Stuttgart in the 58th minute, after the in-form striker latched onto a blocked Chris Führich free-kick, before his slashed strike flew over Svilar's goal - a huge let-off for Roma.

Ermedin Demirovic missed a big chance to level the scores in the 78th minute after beating Evan Ndicka to a chance in the box, before his effort rolled straight into the path of Svilar, and Ndicka stabbed the ball away for a corner. 

Stuttgart were beginning to pile on the pressure, but they were finding big chances hard to come by.

Though for all of Stuttgart's drive, the hosts would seal the deal in the third minute of added time, with Pisilli scoring his second of both the season and the night. 

As classy as ever, Paulo Dybala elegantly teed up the young Roman, who rattled the ball into the roof of Nübel's net - earning all three points for the hosts.

Stuttgart drop to 11th with a fixture against Swiss outfit Young Boys remaining. A win on the final day would see them claim an automatic round of 16 spot - though they will have to rely on results elsewhere going their way.