AS Roma defeated Cremonese 3-0 on February 22, 2026, boosting their position in the tight race for Champions League spots in Serie A. Defender Evan Ndicka, who scored in the match, expressed confidence in the team's readiness for the competition. The result leaves Roma level with Napoli on 50 points, fourth in the standings.
AS Roma claimed a convincing 3-0 victory over Cremonese at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on February 22, 2026. The win propelled Roma to 50 points, tying them with Napoli for third place in Serie A, as the battle for the remaining three Champions League qualification spots intensifies with 12 matchdays remaining.
Defender Evan Ndicka contributed to the scoreline and spoke to the media afterward about the team's defensive solidity and ambitions. "Our solid defense? We do a great job with Svilar," Ndicka said. On the Champions League race, he added, "We are ready, today we won and we hope to do the same thing next week against Juve."
The weekend's results heightened the competition. AC Milan, in second place with 54 points, lost to Parma. Napoli dropped points in a 2-1 defeat to Atalanta, while Juventus fell 2-0 to Como, leaving them fifth on 46 points. Como and Atalanta both sit on 45 points, making the gap between third-placed Napoli and seventh-placed Atalanta just five points. Inter leads comfortably with 64 points, ten ahead of Milan.
Roma director Claudio Ranieri emphasized the club's goals, stating, "Naturally we all want to get into the Champions League." He noted the Friedkin family's desire to win the league and praised new coach Gian Piero Gasperini for building a balanced squad. Ranieri also highlighted forward Donyell Malen's impact since joining on loan from Aston Villa, saying, "We are keeping hold of Malen, because he is doing very well."
Injuries challenged Roma, with absences including Paulo Dybala, Matias Soulé, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson, and Stephan El Shaarawy, though Manu Koné returned to midfield. Italy's UEFA coefficient performance this season eliminates the possibility of a fifth Champions League spot, raising the stakes for the top four finishers.
