The decision to sack Daniele De Rossi seems to have given Roma the spark that they needed as new manager Ivan Jurić celebrated the start of his tenure with a crucial 3-0 victory over Udinese on Sunday. And after sealing their first win of the season (W1, D3, L1), Roma are getting ready for their opening UEFA Europa League (UEL) match of the campaign as they welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Stadio Olimpico.
The last three years have been very successful in Europe for the Giallorossi, as after their triumph in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) in 2022, they ended as runners-up in the UEL in 2023 and were eliminated in the UEL semi-finals last term! Roma won seven of their nine home group-stage matches across those three seasons (D1, L1), with their only loss being a 2-1 defeat to another Spanish side, Real Betis.
After a rather slow start to 2024/25 (D1, L1), Athletic have clicked into gear with four wins in their last five outings (L1), scoring eight goals in their last three games. This will be the first European match for the Basque outfit since their 2017/18 UEL appearance, when they topped their group before being eliminated in the last 16.
Athletic are about to play their tenth competitive encounter in Italy, but they have won just one of their last nine such games (D3, L5) – back in 1997 against Sampdoria. However, four victories in their last six competitive away matches (L2), including consecutive wins on their travels in September, should increase their confidence as they prepare to head to the Eternal City.
Players to watch: Artem Dovbyk has scored the opener in back-to-back Roma matches, but Athletic were one of the few sides he did not score against in his exceptional 2023/24 La Liga season with Girona that saw him net 24 times. After a brace last weekend, Athletic’s Gorka Guruzeta has scored each of his last six goals in the first half.
Hot stat: Athletic have scored before the break in five of their last seven matches.
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