Twitter – or, if Elon is reading, ‘X’ tipsters @FootyAccums have served up their selections for Roma v Athletic Bilbao in a meaty Europa League clash tomight.
We’ve all the form, team news and tips covered here, so let’s get down to business.
Roma v Athletic Bilbao Tips
Roma to win
Roma to win 1-0
WHEN: Thursday 26th of September, 8pm
WHERE: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: TNT Sports 3
Roma will be looking to take a step further this Europa League campaign after exiting to a dominant Bayer Leverkusen side in last season’s semi-finals. If they are to make the next step, it will be without Daniele De Rossi, who was dismissed as manager after failing to win his first four league games and losing to Empoli at home.
The Giallorossi swiftly appointed Ivan Juric who got a response the club was waiting for in a 3-0 win against Udinese. After claiming their first win of the season, attentions now turn to the Europe…
Roma Team News
New boss Jurics’ side may be forced to make some changes, with club captain Lorenzo Pellegrini a major doubt after limping off against Udinese with a knee problem and also missing training thereafter. Alexis Saelemaekers and Enzo Le Fee also remain on the sidelines.
Athletic Bilbao Team News
Nico Williams is a major doubt for the trip to Italy, who suffered a sprained ankle against Leganés. First-choice goalkeeper Unai Simon and second-choice Yeray Alvarez are also unavailable, with Julen Agirrezabala continuing his role between the posts. Yuri Berchiche and Oscar De Marcos are also doubts.
Roma Form Guide
Roma’s poor start to the season began against Cagliari in which they drew 0-0 away from home, however, their 2-1 loss at home to last season’s relegation survivalists, Empoli, shocked everyone showing their defensive vulnerability under De Rossi.
Despite not winning in their next two games after, draws against Genoa and title challengers Juventus showed they had improved from that poor performance, but it wasn’t enough to save the club legend his job. With De Rossi out and Juric in, Roma bounced back against Udinese with that impressive 3-0 win.
With three clean sheets in their last five and only losing once in that time, Roma’s recent form in the Europa League has seen the Giallorossi only lose three of their last 18 Europa League matches, while in their last seven home games in the competition last year, they only suffered one defeat against Bayer Leverkusen.
Athletic Bilbao Form Guide
Athletic Bilbao have won four of their last five games in La Liga, starting with a 1-0 win against Valencia at home. The following game was a tricky fixture against a defensively stubborn Atletico Madrid side, in which they lost 1-0.
The following three games on the bounce were dominant victories where they scored eight goals in three games and averaged 1.8 goals per game in their last five. Despite an impressive start, the Basque club last featured in Europe in 2018, when they were knocked out in the last 16 against Marseille.
They lost their last three games of that campaign and will be looking not to repeat this form, losing four consecutive European ties.
Roma v Athletic Bilbao betting tips
Juric will be looking to lead his side to another strong campaign and potentially challenge for the trophy in a new league system, similar to the Champions League where teams play eight different sides in the league stage. Athletic Bilbao, compared to their Italian counterparts, have enjoyed a strong start to their season which sees them sit in 3rd place in La Liga after winning four of their first seven games, only losing narrowly to Spanish giants in Barcelona and Atlético.
While the two sides have never met before, Bilbao have struggled against Italian opposition, having only won once in nine previous trips to Italy, which spans over 27 years. They will also have to end this torrid run without their star man and Euro 2024 winner Williams, who suffered a sprained ankle against Leganés.
First-choice goalkeeper Unai Simon will also be unavailable. Without their talisman, Bilbao will turn to Inaki Williams in Nico’s likely absence, who has scored double digits for Bilbao in the last two seasons.
Roma pose an attacking threat with Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk who has scored in his last two matches for the Giallorossi, showing glimpses of his superb 2023-24 season at Girona.
While Roma have struggled in their first four games of the season, they have only lost once and kept three clean sheets in that time, and have lost only one of their last 12 home games in the Europa League, while Bilbao have lost their last three games in the competition. The Spanish club haven’t won a game against Italian opposition since 1997 so our Roma v Bilbao prediction is for a home win, with 1-0 the score shout.
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Roma v Bilbao Tips
Roma to win
Roma to win 1-0
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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