Roma vs. Athletic Club: Europa League R16 official line-ups

Football Insomnia

2 weeks ago

Roma vs. Athletic Club: Europa League R16 official line-ups

ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 20: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between AS Roma and FC Porto at Stadio Olimpico on February 20, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Tommaso Baldanzi start for Roma against Nico Williams’ Athletic Club in the Europa League Round of 16.

It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Panathinaikos-Fiorentina and Viktoria Plzen-Lazio on the Liveblog.

The second leg will be in Bilbao next Thursday evening.

The Giallorossi had a shaky start to the season, but have been steadily improving under Claudio Ranieri, managing five wins and a draw in their last six competitive games.

That included eliminating FC Porto in the Europa League play-offs, but Leandro Paredes picked up a yellow card and is therefore suspended.

However, Alexis Saelemaekers and Bryan Cristante return from their bans to bolster the Roma midfield, while Dovbyk has shaken off a muscular issue to partner Dybala plus Baldanzi.

Lucas Gourna-Douath and Anass Salah-Eddine are not on the UEFA list, though Zeki Celik is available after an injury scare.

BILBAO, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 23: Nico Williams of Athletic Club looks on during the LaLiga match between Athletic Club and Real Valladolid CF at Estadio de San Mames on February 23, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Athletic Club have a full squad to choose from and skipped the play-offs, finishing second to Lazio in the Europa League opening phase.

Their top star is EURO 2024 revelation Nico Williams on the left wing, with his brother Inaki Williams on the other flank.

Athletic are currently fourth in LaLiga, fresh off a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

That ended a six-match competitive unbeaten run, including a 7-1 victory over Real Valladolid.

Roma vs. Athletic Club line-ups

Roma: Svilar; Celik, Mancini, N’Dicka; Rensch, Cristante, Pisilli, Angelino; Dybala, Baldanzi; Dovbyk

Athletic Club: Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray Alvarez, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; Iñaki Williams, Unai Gomez, Nico Williams; Sannadi

Ref: Schärer (SUI)