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CREMONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Coach Gian Piero Gasperini of AS Roma reacts during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and AS Roma at Stadio Giovanni Zini on November 23, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Gian Piero Gasperini is confident Bryan Zaragoza will ‘give us a hand’ as Roma play Bologna in the Europa League Round of 16, and is not worried by recent defensive leaks.
It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Fiorentina vs. Rakow on the Liveblog.
The second leg is at the Stadio Olimpico next Thursday, as it means there will be just one Italian entry into the Europa League quarter-finals.
Gasperini makes changes for Roma in Europe
Roma finished eighth in the league phase of the Europa League and therefore earned direct access to the Round of 16.
That was despite not having January signings Donyell Malen and Bryan Zaragoza available, so they make their UEFA debuts in the Giallorossi jersey this evening.
“Zaragoza arrived on transfer deadline day, so naturally he needs a little time to settle in. He already participated in the few games we played since he arrived, had a very important contribution to Malen’s goal against Napoli, so naturally we expect him to give us a hand today,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.
There is the temptation to split their focus, as after a 3-3 draw with Juventus and 2-1 defeat at Genoa, the upcoming showdown for fourth place in Serie A with Como could take the priority.
On the other hand, there’s no room for squad rotation, as Gianluca Mancini is suspended, with Paulo Dybala, Matias Soulé, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson injured, plus Manu Koné and Mario Hermoso not at 100 per cent.
“We conceded more goals lately, but also scored more against tough opponents like Juventus and Napoli. We were missing Hermoso for a long time, Mancini is suspended today, so there were some difficulties to be expected over the course of a campaign,” added Gasperini.
Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli can rotate for who supports the centre-forward, as they can both take that role or drop into a deeper midfield position.
