Bologna vs. Roma: Europa League Round of 16 Predicted Line-ups

As the Europa League Round of 16 approaches, AS Roma is expected to deploy Donyell Malen, Bryan Zaragoza, and Niccolò Pisilli. Their Serie A counterparts, Bologna, are anticipated to feature Thijs Dallinga and Federico Bernardeschi in their starting XI.

The first leg of this highly anticipated fixture will commence at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 17:45 GMT (18:45 CET) on Thursday, with the return leg scheduled for next week at the Stadio Olimpico. This draw guarantees that Italy will have only one representative in the Europa League quarter-finals, as two domestic rivals go head-to-head.

For the home side, Bologna, Juan Miranda, Charalampos Lykogiannis, and Torbjorn Heggem are currently not at full fitness. Additionally, Lorenzo De Silvestri is not included in the UEFA squad list. Santiago Castro, who has recently featured regularly in the starting line-up, appears to be fatigued. This suggests that Thijs Dallinga will likely step into the central forward position.

Dallinga is expected to be supported on the flanks by Federico Bernardeschi and Jonathan Rowe, which would likely leave Riccardo Orsolini on the bench. Bologna's coach, Vincenzo Italiano, has also confirmed that Tommaso Pobega has a strong chance of starting in midfield.

Roma faces defensive challenges with Gianluca Mancini suspended for the match. Furthermore, Matias Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, and Evan Ferguson are all sidelined due to injuries. These absences limit their attacking options, but January signings Malen and Zaragoza are now eligible to play in the Europa League, having been cup-tied for earlier league phase matches.

Mario Hermoso participated in training today, hinting at a potential return to the defensive line. Bryan Cristante is tipped for a more advanced role, supporting the forward players. This position offers him the flexibility to interchange with Pisilli, creating unpredictable movement for the opposition's defenders.

Despite being an all-Italian affair, this remains a UEFA fixture, and as such, the match will be officiated by German referee Sven Jablonski, with Bastian Dankert overseeing VAR duties.