Roma Vs Athletic Club

After navigating a tense playoff phase to secure their spot in the Europa League's last 16, Roma are set to welcome Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, as the two sides prepare to clash in the first leg of what promises to be an exhilarating encounter. This meeting comes just months after their previous showdown in the tournament's league phase, where the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw. With both clubs eager to progress further in the competition, the upcoming tie is expected to be fiercely contested.

Roma’s journey to this stage has been anything but straightforward. Their Europa League campaign began in a state of managerial upheaval and early-season inconsistency. When the Italian side faced Athletic Club at Stadio Olimpico in late September, they were still struggling to find stability. Artem Dovbyk had given Roma the lead just before halftime, but the Basque visitors responded in the closing moments, foreshadowing the difficulties Roma would face throughout the league phase. Despite these struggles, Roma managed to steady the ship under the experienced guidance of Claudio Ranieri, who stepped in to restore order after the team’s rocky start.

Ranieri’s impact became evident as Roma’s performances improved over time. Their resilience was on full display on the final matchday of the league phase, where they claimed an impressive 2-0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. This crucial win ensured their place in the knockout playoff round, allowing them to continue their pursuit of European glory. Roma’s playoff round against Porto proved to be a tense affair. After securing a draw in the first leg away from home, they returned to Stadio Olimpico for the second leg, where they triumphed in a thrilling 3-2 contest, largely thanks to a dazzling display from Paulo Dybala, whose brace played a pivotal role in securing their progression.

The draw for the last 16 spared Roma a clash with their city rivals Lazio, setting up a meeting with Athletic Bilbao instead. Should they advance beyond this stage, a potential quarter-final showdown against either Rangers or Fenerbahce—managed by their former coach, Jose Mourinho—awaits. With such high stakes, Roma are fully aware of the importance of securing a positive result in their home leg before heading to Spain for the return fixture.

In domestic competition, Roma’s form has been commendable in recent months. Their 2-1 victory over Como on Sunday evening, with Dovbyk once again proving decisive, extended their unbeaten run in Serie A to eleven matches. Since the beginning of the year, the Giallorossi have recorded seven wins and two draws, bolstering their hopes of securing European qualification for next season. However, they remain four points behind sixth-placed Bologna, meaning they still have work to do in the league. For Ranieri, who will be stepping aside at the end of the campaign, ensuring Roma finish the season strongly in both domestic and European competition is a top priority.

Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao have also enjoyed a strong run of form, despite their recent 1-0 defeat to La Liga title contenders Atletico Madrid. That loss aside, Ernesto Valverde’s side has been in scintillating form, producing emphatic victories over Girona and Real Valladolid, the latter of which saw them net seven goals in a ruthless attacking display. Their consistent performances have placed them fourth in La Liga, four points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, putting them in prime position to secure a Champions League berth for next season. However, they also have another route to European football’s elite competition—winning the Europa League. With the final set to take place at San Mames, Athletic are particularly motivated to go all the way in this year’s tournament and claim the trophy on home soil.

Athletic’s Europa League campaign has been marked by impressive performances, particularly in the league phase, where they finished second in their group. Their final matchday victory over Viktoria Plzen, in which rising star Nico Williams found the net, ensured they advanced ahead of Manchester United and on equal points with Lazio. Despite their strong showings in the competition thus far, their recent record in the latter stages of European tournaments has been less than stellar. Having lost four of their last five knockout ties, Bilbao will be determined to reverse that trend and avoid another disappointment.

Nico Williams, one of the standout performers for Athletic, came close to scoring in their recent defeat to Atletico Madrid, striking the woodwork twice. His attacking prowess will be crucial for the Basque side as they seek a positive result in Rome. With six wins in their last seven Europa League matches, Athletic have demonstrated their ability to compete at this level, but they will be wary of their past struggles in knockout rounds. The upcoming clash against Roma presents an opportunity for them to make a statement and take a step closer to realizing their dream of lifting the trophy in front of their home fans.

As the first leg approaches, both Roma and Athletic Bilbao understand the significance of the encounter. For Roma, a strong performance at Stadio Olimpico could provide them with a crucial advantage before traveling to Spain for the return fixture. Their recent defensive solidity and attacking contributions from key players like Dybala and Dovbyk will be essential in breaking down a well-organized Athletic side. On the other hand, Athletic will be looking to capitalize on their attacking firepower and maintain their composure in a challenging away environment.

With so much at stake, Thursday’s showdown promises to be a captivating battle between two teams with genuine aspirations of going deep in the tournament. Both clubs have overcome adversity to reach this stage, and with their European ambitions on the line, fans can expect a fiercely contested tie as Roma and Athletic Bilbao fight for a place in the quarter-finals.