Athletic Bilbao vs. Roma | Europa League | Round of 16 | 2nd Leg | Pre Match
Athletic Bilbao vs. Roma
Athletic Bilbao face a daunting yet tantalizing challenge on Thursday as they host Roma at San Mames in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie, trailing by a single goal from last week’s encounter and desperate to keep their dream of reaching the final—set to be staged at their home stadium in May—alive. The first leg at Stadio Olimpico had offered a glimmer of hope when Inaki Williams nodded Athletic ahead from close range, a goal that briefly silenced the Roman crowd and hinted at a potential upset. However, that optimism was short-lived, as Angelino’s swift equalizer restored parity, and the match took a decisive turn when Yeray Alvarez was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving Athletic with 10 men. Clinging to a draw, the Basque side’s resilience was shattered in the 94th minute by Eldor Shomurodov’s last-gasp strike, a cruel blow that handed Roma a 2-1 victory and a slender advantage heading into the return leg. Athletic’s frustrations carried over into their domestic campaign, where they were held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca on Sunday—conceding just after halftime before Nico Williams salvaged a point with a quick response. Despite this recent stumble, Ernesto Valverde’s men remain in contention for Champions League qualification in La Liga, sitting five points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal with a game in hand, buoyed by the third-best home record in Spain’s top flight this season, averaging over two points per game. Their European form at San Mames has been impeccable, with four wins from four in the current Europa League campaign, and a broader record of scoring in each of their last 17 matches in the competition, home or away. Add to that an impressive historical edge—eight wins from 10 home games against Italian sides in Europe—and Athletic have every reason to believe they can overturn the deficit, though Roma’s pedigree and momentum present a formidable obstacle.
Roma arrive in Bilbao wielding a precious lead and a wealth of European experience, their victory in the first leg cementing their status as the competition’s most successful side historically, with 97 wins from 185 matches in UEFA’s second-tier tournament. Shomurodov’s dramatic intervention not only clinched the game but also reinforced Roma’s knack for thriving in knockout scenarios, having progressed from each of their last nine European ties when winning the first leg—a streak stretching back to 2019. Claudio Ranieri’s side earned their place in this round the hard way, navigating a tense playoff against Porto before avoiding a blockbuster clash with city rivals Lazio in the draw, and now they eye a quarter-final matchup with either Rangers or Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce. Their domestic form under Ranieri, who returned to the club in November, has been nothing short of remarkable—unbeaten in 12 Serie A matches, including six consecutive wins, the latest a 1-0 triumph over Empoli on Sunday courtesy of Matias Soule’s early strike. Since Ranieri’s arrival, only Inter Milan have outdone Roma’s win tally across all competitions, a testament to the 73-year-old’s transformative impact as he steers the Giallorossi toward a potential top-four finish in Italy. For Ranieri, a return to San Mames in May for the Europa League final would be a poetic capstone to an illustrious career, and his team’s current streak—blending defensive solidity with opportunistic attacking—suggests they have the tools to protect their lead. Yet, Athletic’s home fortress and attacking potency, led by the Williams brothers, promise to test Roma’s resolve, setting the stage for a clash where history, form, and ambition collide in a battle for quarter-final supremacy.
Athletic Bilbao’s task is complicated by a mounting injury list and the fallout from the first leg, but their home record and attacking consistency offer a lifeline as they seek to reverse the scoreline. The loss of key defender Dani Vivian to injury in Rome, coupled with Yeray Alvarez’s suspension following his red card, forces Valverde to reshuffle his backline—Aitor Paredes is likely to partner Unai Nunez in a makeshift defense, a pairing that will need to withstand Roma’s threats, including the returning Artem Dovbyk and Paulo Dybala. Further absences—Alvaro Djalo (ankle) and Oihan Sancet (thigh) remain sidelined—limit Valverde’s options, though Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta’s return from a domestic ban provides a boost in midfield. Up front, Inaki Williams, with five Europa League goals this season—matching the record for a Ghanaian in a single European campaign alongside icons like Tony Yeboah and Mohammed Kudus—will lead the charge alongside his younger brother Nico, whose pace and flair have tormented defenses all season. Gorka Guruzeta and Maroan Sannadi are in contention to join them, adding depth to an attack that has been relentless at San Mames, scoring in every European game there this term. Valverde, a pragmatic yet ambitious coach, will lean on this offensive firepower and the raucous home crowd to unsettle Roma, banking on the statistic that Athletic have lost just once in their last 17 Europa League matches when scoring first. The Mallorca draw, while a setback, showed their capacity to respond under pressure, and with San Mames—the site of the final—serving as both inspiration and battleground, Athletic will aim to channel that spirit into a comeback that keeps their European dream alive.
Roma, meanwhile, approach the tie with confidence bolstered by their first-leg resilience and Ranieri’s meticulous squad management, which has turned them into one of Europe’s form teams. The veteran coach is poised to rotate his lineup from the Empoli win, reintegrating key figures like Angelino, Dovbyk, and Dybala—players rested or limited in Serie A to ensure freshness for this pivotal clash. Gianluca Mancini, back from a domestic suspension, and Leandro Paredes, who served a UEFA ban last week, bolster Ranieri’s options, adding steel and creativity to a side that has thrived on adaptability. Zeki Celik’s thigh injury rules him out, potentially paving the way for Devyne Rensch to slot into the back three, though Ranieri could opt to retain Mats Hummels or Victor Nelsson for continuity. Shomurodov’s heroics in Rome highlight Roma’s ability to strike late, a trait that could prove decisive if Athletic push forward and leave gaps. Ranieri’s unbeaten streak in Serie A—12 games, six wins—mirrors his team’s European pedigree, where their record of advancing after first-leg victories is near flawless. Since his return, Roma have conceded just once in their last five away games across all competitions, a defensive resolve that contrasts sharply with Athletic’s free-scoring home form, setting up a tactical duel between Ranieri’s caution and Valverde’s aggression. For Ranieri, the prospect of lifting the Europa League in Bilbao—a city he’d love to revisit in triumph—fuels his ambition, and his blend of experience and pragmatism could be the edge Roma need to weather the San Mames storm.
As of March 13, 2025, this second leg looms as a defining moment for both clubs, each chasing glory in a competition that has eluded them in recent years—Athletic last won it as the UEFA Cup in 1977, while Roma’s sole triumph came in 2022 under Mourinho. The first leg’s drama—Williams’ opener, Angelino’s riposte, Alvarez’s red card, and Shomurodov’s dagger—sets the tone for a rematch where Athletic’s home invincibility clashes with Roma’s knockout nous. San Mames, packed and pulsating, will amplify Athletic’s bid to overturn the deficit, their eight wins from 10 against Italian sides a beacon of hope. Yet, Roma’s 97 Europa League victories and nine-for-nine record in advancing after first-leg wins loom large, a statistical juggernaut that Athletic must defy. With Inaki and Nico Williams spearheading the hosts’ attack and Ranieri’s rotated stars poised to counter, the tie balances on a knife-edge—will Athletic’s Basque passion ignite a comeback, or will Roma’s Roman resolve snuff out their dreams? The winner advances to face Rangers or Fenerbahce, but for now, all eyes are on Bilbao, where a season’s aspirations hang in the balance.
