Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 19/10
Bookmaker: ZetBet
Bologna and Roma meet at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League last‑16 tie, with both sides vying to become the final Italian team left standing in this year’s competition.
The winner will move one step closer to a quarter‑final showdown against either Lille or Aston Villa, adding further intrigue to an already compelling all‑Serie A clash.
Bologna
Fresh from navigating their first UEFA knockout tie in 26 years, Bologna now look to carry their continental momentum deeper into the Europa League. Vincenzo Italiano’s men edged SK Brann 1–0 in both playoff legs to secure their place in the last 16, extending what has been a quietly impressive European campaign.
Since falling at Villa Park on matchday one, Bologna have not lost any of their subsequent nine fixtures in the competition. That run has equalled the club’s longest ever unbeaten stretch in Europe, a record set in 1967. Even a draw on Thursday would see this side break a milestone that has stood for nearly six decades, although Italiano will certainly prefer to take a first‑leg advantage with them to Rome.
Their 10th‑place finish in the league phase meant Bologna had to endure the playoff route, but the Rossoblù remain firmly in the hunt for further silverware. Last season delivered extraordinary highs, including the club’s first Coppa Italia triumph in 51 years and a debut appearance in the Champions League. This campaign has been steadier, with Bologna enduring a difficult stretch during the winter in which results dipped and they exited the cup early. But signs of revival have emerged.
Bologna have climbed back into eighth place in Serie A, though they still sit 12 points behind Roma—Thursday’s opponents—and a return to Europe next season likely hinges on winning this competition. Their recent head‑to‑head record against Roma offers some encouragement: although they lost 1–0 at the Olimpico earlier this season, that remains their only defeat in the last six meetings between the clubs.
Team News
In terms of team availability, Italiano can welcome back defenders Torbjørn Heggem and Juan Miranda, both of whom have resumed training and could feature among the substitutes. Midfield reinforcements also arrive in the form of Remo Freuler, now eligible again after serving a domestic suspension. Freuler may slot in next to Nikola Moro, who has stood out across the European campaign by ranking second for both chances created (21) and final‑third passes (142).
In attack, Santiago Castro and Riccardo Orsolini lead Bologna’s league scoring chart with seven goals each, though Orsolini’s form has dipped lately. That leaves Federico Bernardeschi, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Jonathan Rowe and Benjamin Dominguez all competing for starting roles on the flanks, while Castro or Thijs Dallinga are expected to lead the line.
Roma
Roma also suffered disappointment at the weekend—just as Bologna did—falling 2–1 away to Genoa. Former Giallorossi icon Daniele De Rossi masterminded that defeat, delivering another blow to Roma’s pursuit of Champions League qualification. That setback came only a week after they squandered a two‑goal lead against Juventus, further complicating their top‑four ambitions ahead of a crunch clash with Como this Sunday.
Yet Gasperini’s side have enjoyed a far smoother path in Europe this season. A draw with Panathinaikos on the final league‑phase matchday was enough to secure eighth place and an automatic spot in the last 16. Roma are twice runners‑up in UEFA’s secondary competition, having reached the final in 1991 and 2023, and they now possess a manager who won the trophy less than two years ago with Atalanta.
They also boast an imposing last‑16 record externally, having won the first leg of each of their last six ties at this stage. Still, success has not always followed: they were knocked out last season despite beating Athletic Bilbao 2–1 in Rome. Their history against fellow Italian sides is a mixed one as well, having lost the UEFA Cup final to Inter, been eliminated by Fiorentina in 2014–15, and later knocking out AC Milan nine years on.
Team News
Heading into Thursday, Roma remain short of attacking options. Paulo Dybala is sidelined with a knee issue, Artem Dovbyk is still out with a thigh problem and Evan Ferguson’s campaign has been ended by an ankle injury. As a result, Donyell Malen leads the line again. The Dutch forward has already matched Matias Soule’s tally of six league goals and claimed the Serie A Player of the Month award almost immediately after arriving in January. Wesley, who scored the winner against Bologna in August, is back from a domestic suspension, but Gianluca Mancini must miss this fixture due to his own disciplinary ban.
Conclusion
Both sides enter Thursday’s encounter having suffered domestic setbacks, but Bologna had won five straight in all competitions prior to last weekend, while Roma remain confident in Europe and carry the Gasperini factor.
Bologna’s home record is modest, yet under Italiano they possess enough tactical maturity and European experience to keep this tie finely balanced. A tight first leg seems likely, with the Rossoblù capable of holding Roma level heading into the decisive return match in the capital.
Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 19/10
Bookmaker: ZetBet
