Overview
AS Roma started the 2024-2025 season poorly and as a result coach De Rossi was fired. It was the right decision as the maroon team immediately started to play well again. A 3-0 victory over the in-form Udinese helped Roma regain some confidence.
In contrast to Roma, Athletic Bilbao is in impressive form with 4 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses after 6 rounds in La Liga. Bilbao is currently ranked 3rd on the rankings, only behind the 2 "giants" Barcelona and Real Madrid. That impressive streak of form is the foundation for Bilbao to confidently enter the Europa League campaign.
Roma's new coach Ivan Juric has had his first win with his new team. However, one game is not enough to tell the whole story and the real test for Juric is the clash with Bilbao.
With the importance of the opening match of the group stage campaign, both teams will emphasize certainty. Therefore, it is likely that this match will see few goals.
In the past, Bilbao and Roma have only met once (a friendly) and the match ended in a 2-2 draw. And this will be the first time the two teams have faced each other in an official match. With the current balance of power between the two teams, a draw would be reasonable.
Human resources situation
The Spanish side will be without a number of injured players, including Yuri Berchiche, Nico Williams, Yeray Alvarez and Unai Simon. Their second-choice goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala is also doubtful of being fit enough to play.
On the other side of the front line, Roma will be without Alexis Saelemaekers and Enzo Le Fee until at least October.
Expected lineup:
AS Roma: Svilar, Angelino, Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Cristante, Pellegrini, Pisilli, El Shaarawy, Dybala, Dovbyk.
Athletic Bilbao: Padilla, De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Prados, Boiro, Sancet, Jauregizar, I. Williams, Berenguer, Guruzeta.
The match between AS Roma and Athletic Bilbao takes place at 2:00 a.m. on September 27 (Vietnam time).
