(Reuters) – A rotated AS Roma side were held to a goalless draw at mid-table Bologna on Sunday as Jose Mourinho’s side prepare for their Europa League semi-final second leg, extending their winless run in Serie A to five games.
Mourinho opted to go into energy-saving mode ahead of his side’s trip to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, with Roma a goal ahead in the tie, and left striker Paulo Dybala and keeper Rui Patricio out of the squad.
The visitors gifted Bologna around 70% of the possession throughout the game, which resulted in the hosts often coming high up the field and Roma seeking chances to catch them out on the break.
But sixth-placed Roma were ultimately unable to take advantage of the poor performances over the weekend of those around them in the table and remain sixth on 59 points, one point clear of Atalanta in seventh and two behind AC Milan in fifth.
(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
