Overview
After passing the UEFA group stage for the first time in 26 years - defeating SK Brann with a total score of 2-0 in the play-off round - Bologna is aiming to continue to advance deep in the Europa League.
Since the defeat to Aston Villa in the opening match of the group stage, the Emilia region representative has been unbeaten in 9 consecutive European matches this season, thereby equaling the record for the longest unbeaten streak in the club's history in the continental arena.
If they avoid defeat in the next match, Bologna will surpass the record set in 1967. However, coach Vincenzo Italiano is definitely aiming for the goal of winning the first leg to create an advantage before the away match in Rome.
Being only 10th in the group stage caused Bologna to enter the play-offs, but the red and green team still nurtures the ambition to conquer more titles.
Last season, Rossoblu made a splash when they won a Champions League spot for the first time in many years, while ending 51 years of waiting to lift the Coppa Italia trophy. However, this year's campaign did not bring the same stability.
Italiano's team once experienced a period of decline in the middle of winter when they had difficulty getting points and were eliminated from cup tournaments. However, Bologna has shown signs of recovery recently.
Currently, they are ranked eighth in the Serie A standings, but still 12 points behind their upcoming opponent. Therefore, Bologna's hope of returning to the European arena next season may largely depend on going deep in the Europa League.
In the confrontation at the Olimpico stadium at the beginning of the season, Roma won a minimal 1-0 victory. However, that was also Bologna's only defeat in the last six encounters between the two teams.
Last weekend, both teams disappointed when losing to opponents struggling in the bottom group. Bologna lost 1-2 to Hellas Verona, while Roma also received a similar result at Genoa's stadium.
Notably, coach Daniele De Rossi - the legend of Roma - is the one who led Genoa to defeat their old team, hitting another blow to Giallorossi's ambition to win a Champions League spot.
Previously, Roma also dropped victory when they let Juventus equalize after leading by 2 goals in the top 4 race. Therefore, they will have to prepare carefully for the important match against Como - the team currently ranked fifth - this weekend.
Before thinking about Serie A, Roma needs to continue to maintain stable form in the Europa League. One point in the last match of the group stage against Panathinaikos helped them win a ticket to the next round in eighth place.
The Italian capital team has twice finished second in UEFA's second division, in 1991 and 2023. In addition, Roma is currently led by an experienced Europa League coach when Gian Piero Gasperini once won this tournament with Atalanta less than 2 years ago.
Roma also has a fairly good record in the European round of 16 when winning the first leg in the last six times. However, they were still eliminated last season even though they defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at home.
In matches against fellow European teams in European cups, Roma has quite contrasting records. They once lost to Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup final, were eliminated by Fiorentina in the Europa League season 2014-2015, before eliminating AC Milan from this tournament 9 years later.
Expected lineup:
Skorupski, Zortea, Lucumi, Vitik, Mario, Ferguson, Freuler, Moro, Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe.
Svilar, Ziolkowski, Ndicka, Ghilardi, Celik, Cristante, Kone, Wesley, Pisilli, Zaragoza, Malen.
The match between Bologna and Roma takes place at 0:45 AM on March 13 (Vietnam time).
