Europa League R16 official line-ups: Bologna vs. Roma

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·12 Maret 2026

Europa League R16 official line-ups: Bologna vs. Roma

Roma hope Donyell Malen and Bryan Zaragoza can inspire them to Europa League success in the all-Italian derby with Bologna’s Federico Bernardeschi and Santiago Castro.

It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).

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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.

Roma went directly into the Round of 16 as one of the top eight in the league phase, but are decimated in attack by injuries to Paulo Dybala, Matias Soulé, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson.

Gianluca Mancini also sits out a ban in defence, with Manu Koné and Mario Hermoso carrying knocks.

January signings Malen and Zaragoza finally get to play in the Europa League, as they were cup-tied for the last couple of league phase matches, with Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli providing support from midfield.

There is temptation to focus on the upcoming showdown with Como for fourth place in Serie A, coming off a 3-3 draw with Juventus and 2-1 defeat at Genoa.

ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 22: Niccolo Pisilli of AS Roma celebrates with his teammate Kostas Tsimikas after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between AS Roma and VfB Stuttgart at Stadio Olimpico on January 22, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Bologna have almost a complete squad to deal with after eliminating SK Brann in the play-offs, though Juan Miranda, Torbjorn Heggem and Charalampos Lykogiannis are not at 100 per cent.

Castro keeps hold of the centre-forward role, flanked by Jonathan Rowe and Federico Bernardeschi.

Tommaso Pobega also gets the nod in midfield.

The Rossoblu have had a very odd 2026, as after a crisis run of poor results, they put together five consecutive victories in all competition.

That was halted at the weekend with a shock 2-1 home defeat to rock bottom Hellas Verona in Serie A.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Federico Bernardeschi of Bologna FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Udinese Calcio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 23, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)