🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Neil El Aynaoui returns to form with decisive performance for AS Roma
via Le Matin2 min read
Neil El Aynaoui delivered a standout performance for AS Roma in their Serie A match against Bologna, contributing a goal and an assist. This double contribution helped AS Roma secure a victory and climb to sixth place in the league standings with 61 points, boosting their pursuit of European competition. El Aynaoui's decisive play began in the seventh minute when he assisted Donyell Malen for the opening goal. He then scored his first league goal of the season just before halftime, in the 45th minute. This strong showing marks a significant return to form for the midfielder, who had experienced a period of reduced playing time and struggled to regain his rhythm after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations CAN 2025. AS Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged that the events surrounding the CAN had impacted El Aynaoui, stating, "The history of Morocco, with the controversy and all these events, weighed heavily on him, and he paid the price." However, Gasperini praised the young player's resilience, noting, "We had to wait a bit for him to recover the energy spent during this tournament, but today, he really played a high-level match." El Aynaoui's resurgence is timely for AS Roma as they approach the final stages of the Serie A season, and it also provides a boost for the Moroccan national team, where his role is crucial, ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
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