Bologna vs Roma – News and Probable Lineups

In the quest to become the last Italian club remaining in this season’s Europa League, Bologna will face off against Roma at Stadio Dall’Ara this Thursday.

The Serie A teams need to overcome their well-known rivals in the round of 16, with a quarter-final matchup against either Lille or Aston Villa awaiting the victor.

Match overview

After advancing from their first UEFA knockout tie in 26 years – defeating SK Brann 1-0 in both legs of a playoff – Bologna aims to leverage that success to progress further in the Europa League.

Since their opening matchday loss at Villa Park, the Emilian side has gone unbeaten in their next nine matches of the current season, equaling their record for the longest unbeaten run in Europe.

Just managing to avoid defeat on Thursday would set a new streak that hasn’t been surpassed since 1967, but head coach Vincenzo Italiano will be looking to secure a first-leg advantage to take to Rome.

Finishing in 10th place during the league stage may have forced them down the playoff route, yet Bologna is still very much in pursuit of additional trophies.

Last year, the Rossoblu ended a 51-year wait to win the Coppa Italia following their Champions League debut; however, this campaign hasn’t reached those same heights.

Italiano and his team experienced a significant downturn around mid-winter, struggling to gather points and getting eliminated from the cup, but recent signs indicate they are on the rebound.

Although they have climbed back up to eighth place in Serie A, they remain 12 points behind their upcoming opponents, with their aspirations of returning to Europe likely hinging on winning the Europa League.

In their previous encounter at Stadio Olimpico this season, Roma triumphed 1-0; however, that remains Bologna’s only defeat in their last six meetings across the league.

Both clubs faced defeats against teams battling against relegation last weekend, with Bologna falling 2-1 to Hellas Verona and Roma losing by the same margin in Genoa.

Roman legend Daniele De Rossi played a pivotal role in his cherished club’s defeat, as his Genoa side dealt another blow to the Giallorossi’s hopes of Champions League qualification.

A week after letting a two-goal lead slip against top-four contenders Juventus, Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad stumbled again, and now they are preparing for a crucial match against fifth-placed Como this Sunday.

Before that, they must resume a continental journey that has progressed fairly smoothly thus far: a crucial final matchday point at Panathinaikos secured their advancement by finishing eighth in the league phase.

As two-time runners-up in UEFA’s secondary tournament – in 1991 and 2023 – Roma also have a coach with recent Europa League triumph experience, as Gasperini claimed the trophy with Atalanta less than two years ago.

The capital side has also won the opening leg in their last six European last-16 ties, although they were eliminated last year despite winning 2-1 against Athletic Bilbao in Rome.

Their record against other Italian teams is more varied: losing the UEFA Cup final to Inter de Milão over two legs, then bowing out to Fiorentina in the 2014-15 Europa League, before ousting AC Milan from the same competition nine years later.

Team News

Bologna head coach Italiano is able to welcome back defensive players Torbjorn Heggem and Juan Miranda, both of whom have returned to full training and might be included on the bench.

Additionally, veteran midfielder Remo Freuler is available after serving a domestic suspension; he may team up with Nikola Moro, who ranks second this season in the Europa League for chances created (21) and passes in the final third (142).

Santiago Castro and Riccardo Orsolini are Bologna’s joint-top league scorers with seven goals in Serie A each, though the latter has struggled to find form in recent weeks.

Consequently, Federico Bernardeschi, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Jonathan Rowe, and Benjamin Domiguez are all possible candidates to start on either wing, supporting Castro or Thijs Dallinga up front.

Meanwhile, Roma are short on attacking options, as Paulo Dybala is out due to a knee injury, Artem Dovbyk (thigh) remains unavailable, and Evan Ferguson has seen his campaign end early due to an ankle issue.

In their absence, Donyell Malen will spearhead the Giallorossi’s attack: within weeks of his signing, the Dutch forward has already matched Matias Soule’s tally to become their joint-leading scorer in the league with six goals and was recently honored as ‘Serie A Player of the Month’.

While Wesley – who netted the winner against Bologna in August – has returned from a one-match ban, Italy defender Gianluca Mancini must sit out the first leg due to suspension.

Bologna probable starting XI:

Skorupski; Zortea, Lucumi, Vitik, Mario; Ferguson, Freuler, Moro; Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe

Roma probable starting XI:

Svilar; Ziolkowski, Ndicka, Ghilardi; Celik, Cristante, Kone, Wesley; Pisilli, Zaragoza; Malen

Roma has achieved victory in four of their last five European contests and benefits from the Gasperini factor, but Bologna had enjoyed five consecutive wins across all competitions before faltering last weekend.

While the Rossoblu have a rather modest home record, Italiano also possesses continental experience – having reached a Conference League final with Fiorentina – allowing his squad to remain competitive ahead of next week’s second leg.