BETTING GUIDE: Bologna vs AS Roma, Match Preview, Team News and Prediction
Reading Time: 4min | Thu. 12.03.26. | 13:58
Bologna will be eager to seize an advantage on home soil, while Roma aim to continue their strong European tradition and take a positive result back to the capital ahead of the decisive return leg
The UEFA Europa League round of 16 delivers an intriguing all-Italian encounter on Thursday evening as Bologna hosts AS Roma in the first leg at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
The clash carries enormous stakes, with the winner of this tie advancing to face either Aston Villa or Lille in the quarter-finals.
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Bologna will be eager to seize an advantage on home soil, while Roma aim to continue their strong European tradition and take a positive result back to the capital ahead of the decisive return leg.
Bologna arrives with encouraging continental momentum under coach Vincenzo Italiano.
The Rossoblu reached this stage after overcoming SK Brann 1-0 in both legs of their playoff tie, marking their first successful European knockout since the late 1990s.
In this season’s Europa League campaign, they have lost only once and have gone nine consecutive matches unbeaten in the competition after their opening defeat away to Aston Villa.
That impressive run equals their longest unbeaten European streak, highlighting a team capable of competing at this level despite their domestic inconsistency.
Domestically, Bologna sit eighth in Serie A and remain some distance from the Champions League places, which means lifting the Europa League could represent their clearest route back into continental competition next season.
Their recent form has been mixed, though: they won five straight matches across competitions before a 2-1 defeat to Verona last weekend.
Across their last six games, they have scored seven goals and conceded just three, reflecting a generally solid defensive structure.
However, their home form across all competitions has dipped recently, with only two wins from their last ten matches at the Dall’Ara.
Team news offers Bologna a few positive developments.
Defensive pair Torbjorn Heggem and Juan Miranda have returned to training and could feature from the bench, while experienced midfielder Remo Freuler is back after serving a domestic suspension.
In attack, Santiago Castro and Riccardo Orsolini lead the scoring charts with seven Serie A goals each, though Orsolini’s form has cooled slightly in recent weeks.
Players such as Federico Bernardeschi, Nicolo Cambiaghi and Jonathan Rowe could provide width and creativity, with Castro or Thijs Dallinga expected to spearhead the attack.
Roma, coached by Gian Piero Gasperini, also suffered a disappointing weekend result, losing 2-1 away to Genoa.
That defeat halted a four-match unbeaten run in the league and left them fifth in Serie A. In the Europa League, however, Roma have been impressive.
After losing two of their first three games in the league phase, they rallied with four wins and a draw to finish eighth and qualify directly for the knockout rounds.
Historically, the Giallorossi are strong in this competition, having reached the final in 2023 and the semi-final last season.
Roma’s recent form shows attacking promise but defensive vulnerability. In their last six matches, they have scored 11 goals while conceding eight, with games averaging over three goals.
Away from home in the Europa League, they have collected 10 points from four matches, but their broader away record is less convincing, as they are winless in their last four trips in all competitions.
Injuries could also impact their attacking options, with Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson all unavailable.
Those absences place added responsibility on Dutch forward Donyell Malen, who has made an immediate impact since arriving in Rome.
Malen has already scored six goals in eight Serie A matches and was recently named Player of the Month.
Meanwhile, defender Gianluca Mancini misses the first leg through suspension, forcing adjustments in Roma’s back line.
Head-to-head meetings between these clubs have been competitive in recent seasons. Bologna have actually enjoyed the better results recently, losing only once in their last six encounters with Roma.
The earlier league meeting this season ended in a narrow 1-0 win for Roma at the Olimpico, but Bologna remains unbeaten in their last four home games against the Giallorossi.
Key betting pointers;
- Donyell Malen has found the net six times in just eight appearances for AS Roma
- The Dutch forward has registered at least two shots on target in four of his last five outings
- Malen has also recorded 75 touches inside the opposition penalty area across his eight matches for Roma
- Roma are currently averaging two goals per game in their away fixtures in the UEFA Europa League this season
- Bologna have managed only one clean sheet in their last four meetings with Roma
Prediction: Donyell Malen to register over 1.5 shots on target
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