Europa League derby favourite not so clear

Roma and Bologna will meet within the Europa League Spherical of 16, and though the Giallorossi seem barely favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals, their victory isn’t assured.

Roma and Bologna, the one two Serie A representatives within the Europa League, will meet within the Spherical of 16, which is unquestionably no excellent news for Italian soccer.

By wanting on the Serie A standings, Gian Piero Gasperini’s facet appears favorite because the Giallorossi sit fourth, degree on 50 factors with Napoli, whereas Bologna are eighth with simply 36 factors, creating a spot that, on paper, seems as predictable as outcomes calculated by on line casino platform software program.

The primary leg might be performed in Bologna on March 12, whereas the decider is scheduled for March 19 on the Stadio Olimpico. The winner will face Aston Villa or Lille within the quarter-finals.

Roma have collected higher outcomes than Bologna this season, each domestically and in Europe. The Giallorossi, actually, completed the Europa League group part within the high eight, qualifying straight for the following spherical, whereas Bologna needed to undergo the knockout play-off, the place they beat Norwegian facet Brann with a 2-0 mixture win.

Bologna, nonetheless, will prioritise the cup competitors, provided that they’re already fairly far-off from a Convention League spot in Serie A.

Roma, however, can’t afford to drop factors within the league as they purpose to qualify for the Champions League for the primary time since 2017-18.

On the similar time, Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano has a particular relationship with cup competitions. He has by no means lifted a European silverware, as Gian Piero Gasperini did with Atalanta in 2023-24, however he has already reached three finals with Fiorentina and one with Bologna.

Throughout Italiano’s spell on the Franchi, Fiorentina reached two Convention League Finals and one Coppa Italia Last, shedding all three.

At Bologna, Italiano gained the Coppa Italia, beating Milan 1-0 within the 2024-25 Last.

The top-to-head file with Gasperini can also be fairly balanced, with Italiano profitable seven of their earlier 15 conferences, drawing 3 times, and shedding 5.

As beforehand talked about, the Serie A derby between Bologna and Roma isn’t essentially excellent news for Italian soccer, as administrators of each side have highlighted.

“As a participant, I performed in an (all-Italian) last with Juventus. We might have most well-liked to keep away from it for lots of causes, together with the emotional side,” mentioned Bologna government Marco Di Vaio.

“We’ll put together nicely. It will have been an ideal problem in opposition to Freiburg as nicely. We’ll see what occurs.”

Roma’s Frederic Massara appeared to agree together with his colleague: “Maybe, it might lose a little bit of the allure coming from a European match, however we all know it’s a pleasant recreation, with so much at stake. The remorse is for the rating, as this doesn’t favour Italy.”

Put up navigation