AS Roma had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Salernitana on Monday which doomed their hopes of qualifying for European football next season.
Roma moved up one place to sixth on 60 points after Juventus earned a 10 point deduction on Monday night following a new decision in their transfer case.
Monday’s draw leaves Jose Mourinho’s Roma one point behind fifth-placed Atalanta and four clear of fourth-placed AC Milan with two games remaining.
Salernitana took a surprise lead in the 12th minute through midfielder Antonio Candreva following Lassana Coulibaly’s cross.
Roma leveled right after the break through Stephan El Shaarawy, but Boulaye Dia put Salernitana back ahead before Nemanja Matic equalized for the hosts seven minutes from time.
Roma can still qualify for the Champions League via an alternative route if they beat Sevilla in the Europa League final on May 31.
“This is a joke to me, learning this with two games left to play. Had they told me this before Monza (1-1), before Bologna (0-0), our approach would have been different,” Mourinho told DAZN, when was asked about Juventus’ recent suspension, as quoted by ESPN.
“But knowing that Juve were picking up points and that our best situation was to risk everything in the Europa League, we decided to go for it.”
Roma are without striker Paulo Dybala, who has not fully recovered after injuring his ankle on a trip to Atalanta in late April.
“How is he? Bad,” said Mourinho. “I don’t know if he will recover for Sevilla.”
Candreva’s goal stunned Roma when Lassana Coulibaly’s cross was well finished by the midfielder.
Roma thought they had equalized in stoppage time of the first half through Roger Ibanez, who put the ball past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa after a corner, but the goal was ruled out after a lengthy VAR review for handball.
The hosts leveled two minutes into the second half after Ochoa saved from Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free kick and El Shaarawy converted the rebound to equalise.
Salernitana restored their lead in the 54th minute when Dia tapped in from close range from Krzysztof Piatek’s cross.
Roma once again equalized through first-half substitute Matic following a corner seven minutes from time.
They next visit European Conference League finalists Fiorentina, who are in 11th place, on Saturday before they end the season at home to bottom side Spezia on June 4.
