Europa League: All you need to know about Bologna vs. Roma as Aston Villa and Lille wait
Bologna and Roma will meet in the Europa League Round of 16, and the winner will face Lille or Aston Villa in the quarter-finals: here’s all you need to know about the upcoming Italian derby.
The first leg will be played in Bologna, as Roma finished the league phase in the top eight and were, therefore, among the seeded teams.
Roma or Bologna to meet Aston Villa or Lille
The kick-off time will be confirmed by UEFA later today, but the days are already set as the first leg will be played on Thursday, March 12, at the Dall’Ara and the decider at the Olimpico in Rome is scheduled for March 19.
If Bologna progress, they’ll play the second leg of any other future round at home.
The winner will meet Lille or Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.
Before the first leg, Roma will play away at Genoa in Serie A, while Bologna will host strugglers Verona.
Bologna and Roma fixture list compared
The Serie A round in between the two Europa League fixtures will see Roma travel to Como for a tricky meeting in the race for a Champions League spot, while Bologna will travel to regional rivals Sassuolo.
Technically, Bologna have a little advantage here given that the Rossoblu are already nine points below a Conference League spot in Serie A, so they’ll surely prioritise the Europa League, while Roma can’t really choose as they currently occupy a Champions League placement, with a four-point lead over Juventus, their next rivals in Serie A.
Roma and Bologna have met only once in Serie A this season, in the first match of the season at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Giallorossi secured a 1-0 victory. The return leg in Serie A will be played on the weekend of April 26, more than a month after their meetings in the Europa League Round of 16.
Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano has beaten Gian Piero Gasperini in seven of their previous 15 meetings, drawing three times and losing five times.