Bologna vs AS Roma Prediction, Preview and Lineups

Tomorrow night, the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara will host an all-Italian clash as Bologna takes on AS Roma in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16. It is a battle of tactical minds between Vincenzo Italiano and Gian Piero Gasperini, with both sides looking to take a vital lead to Rome for the second leg in the Champions League.

​Recent team Form

​Both teams come into this match looking to bounce back from narrow 2-1 defeats in Serie A last weekend—Bologna lost to Hellas Verona, while Roma fell to Genoa.

• ​Bologna: They have been incredibly resilient in Europe this season. Since a loss on matchday one, they have gone nine games unbeaten in the Europa League. However, their home form has been shaky lately, with only three wins at the Dall'Ara since December.

• ​AS Roma: Roma breezed through the league phase, finishing 8th to qualify directly for this round. They have been efficient away from home in this competition, securing three wins and a draw in their four road trips so far.

​Match Facts

• ​Head-to-Head: Historically, it is almost a dead heat. In 161 meetings, Roma has 57 wins to Bologna's 56.

• ​The Gasperini Factor: Roma’s manager has a strong record against Bologna, winning 16 of his 33 career matches against them.

• ​Goal Trends: Five of the last six meetings between these two clubs have ended with under 2.5 goals. Both teams prioritize defensive organization, with Bologna conceding just 0.7 goals per game in Europe and Roma 0.75.

• ​Missing Pieces: Roma will be without Gianluca Mancini (suspended) and Mario Hermoso (injured). Bologna’s defense will rely heavily on Jhon Lucumí to stay organized.

Predicted lineups

Bologna: 4-1-4-1

Skorupski; Zortea, Lucumi, Vitik, Mario; Ferguson, Freuler, Moro; Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe

AS Roma: 3-4-2-1

Svilar; Ziolkowski, Ndicka, Ghilardi; Celik, Cristante, Kone, Wesley; Pisilli, Zaragoza; Malen

Our prediction

This match is expected to be a cagey, tactical "chess match." Bologna plays a possession-heavy style and likes to use the width of the pitch, while Roma is more efficient and clinical with their chances.

​Because it is a first leg, both teams will likely prioritize not losing over taking massive risks. Bologna wants to break their home slump, but Roma’s European experience gives them a slight psychological edge.

Predicted score: AS Roma or draw

Top Picks: Under 3.5 Goals FT