Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 5/1
Athletic Bilbao and AS Roma will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Europa League this week. The second leg of the last-16 tie between the La Liga club and the Serie A outfit will be held at Estadio San Mames and is scheduled to kick off at 5:45pm UK time on Thursday.
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao are one of the biggest clubs in Spain who are in the running for a top-four spot in La Liga and could also go on to win the UEFA Europa League this season.
Ernesto Valverde’s side are fourth in the La Liga table at the moment with 49 points from 27 matches, five points above fifth-placed Villarreal. Bilbao lost the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie against AS Roma 2-1 in Rome last week and are not out of it yet.
Valverde said ahead of the match: “What we have to do is draw on the crowd, which will join us in our battle.
“A message to Roma? We wanted a final at San Mamés and now we have it. We have to take advantage of it.
“Winning every game is a constant battle. We are in good shape and we are looking forward to playing against Roma, which is our chance to continue in Europe. We can’t wait.
Bilbao will head into the UEFA Europa League match against AS Roma on the back of a 1-1 draw with Real Mallorca at home in La Liga. It came after a 2-1 defeat to AS Roma away from home at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome in the UEFA Europa League which followed a 1-0 loss at the hands of Atletico Madrid on the road.
Team News:
Athletic Bilbao are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against AS Roma. Unai Simon will be in goal for the Spanish club. Andoni Gorosabel, Yeray, Aitor Paredes and Adama Boiro will be the four defenders. Mikel Jauregizar and Benar Prados will be the two holding midfielders. Alex Berenguer, Peio Canales and Nico Williams will be the three attacking midfielders. Gorka Guruzeta will lead the line for Bilbao.
AS Roma
AS Roma are one of the biggest clubs in Italy who regularly challenge for a top-four spot in the Serie A table and feature in major European Competitions. I Giallorossi have not had the best of seasons, but their recent form has taken an uplift and things are looking good for them.
Roma are seventh in the Serie A table at the moment with 46 points from 28 matches. The Italian club are now just six points behind fourth-placed Juventus and could clinch a UEFA Champions League spot. Roma also beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie last week.
Roma will head into the UEFA Europa League tie against Athletic Bilbao in Spain this week on the back of a 1-0 victory over Empoli away from home in Serie A. It came after a 2-1 win against Bilbao at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome in the UEFA Europa League which followed a 2-1 home win against Como in the league.
Team News:
AS Roma are likely to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Athletic Bilbao. Mile Svilar will be in goal for the Italian club. Victor Nelsson, Mats Hummels and Evan Ndicka will be the three centre-backs. Saud Abdulhamid, Leandro Paredes, Manu Kone and Anass Salah-Eddine will be the four midfielders. Matias Soule and Lorenzo Pellegrini will be the two attacking midfielders. Eldor Shomurodov will lead the line for AS Roma.
Key Factors to Consider
- Athletic Bilbao have won 2 of their last 6 La Liga matches.
- AS Roma have won their last 5 Serie A matches.
- Oihan Sancet has scored 13 goals in 21 La Liga games for Athletic Bilbao this season.
- Artem Dovbyk has scored 9 goals in 23 La Liga matches for AS Roma this season.
- Athletic Bilbao had more shots than AS Roma in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie last week.
Conclusion
Both Athletic Bilbao and AS Roma are good teams, and the match between the two clubs this week promises to be very intriguing. While Bilbao are at home, Roma have a one-goal advantage from the first leg, which they are very likely to protect in the second leg in Spain and should go through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League.
Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 5/1
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
