Gian Piero Gasperini insists Roma will not prioritise Serie A ahead of the Europa League meeting with Bologna despite a stretched attacking roster. The upcoming bologna vs roma tie sharpens focus on whether January signing Donyell Malen, the returning Mario Hermoso and rotation around Lorenzo Pellegrini can cover absences and maintain Roma’s positive scoring trend.
Gasperini: Roma availability and absences before Stadio Dall’Ara
Gasperini confirmed a depleted squad for the trip to the Stadio Dall’Ara, with suspended Gianluca Mancini and injured Matias Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson unavailable. Mario Hermoso is included in the list and “could play, ” Gasperini said, but added he has trained little and might start on the bench. The first leg kicks off at 12: 45 pm ET, a match that will force tactical choices given the defensive reshuffle and the suspension of Mancini.
Bologna Vs Roma: Malen’s arrival, rotation and the missing forwards
The January signings have notably changed Roma’s attacking profile, with Gasperini crediting Donyell Malen for making the team “more dangerous in attack” and for contributing to a positive scoring trend. Malen will finally be available in this Europa League phase after being cup-tied earlier, a detail that alters selection options for bologna vs roma. Roma have lost several forwards compared with the first half of the season; Gasperini said five players have been lost and named Dovbyk, Ferguson, Dybala, Baldanzi and Soulé among those absent. That shortage has forced rotation: Lorenzo Pellegrini has filled support roles most consistently, while Lorenzo Venturino, Robinio Vaz and Stephan El Shaarawy are among others being used. Venturino started on Sunday but is not on the UEFA list for the competition, which complicates immediate choices behind Malen. Gasperini noted Bryan Zaragoza has only been at the club for a month and “needs time to adapt, ” underlining why Roma are mixing experienced and newer options in midfield support.
Svilar: Mile Svilar’s motivation and Roma’s European outlook
Goalkeeper Mile Svilar framed the tie as one Roma must approach to win, saying the team hopes to score many goals and concede few. He acknowledged recent defensive lapses, noting “in the past few weeks, it didn’t go our way, but we’ll do better in the future, ” and described European nights as special with the objective to advance to the next round. Svilar’s comments reinforce Gasperini’s insistence that Roma will treat the Europa League seriously even while juggling Serie A commitments.
The next confirmed milestone in the context is the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico next week, a match that will determine which Italian side reaches the quarter-finals and follow this tie. What the context does not resolve is whether Hermoso will start and play the full match, and how Gasperini will split minutes among Cristante, Zaragoza and other rotated midfielders. For now, the starting XI and matchday squad announced before the 12: 45 pm ET kickoff will provide the clearest signal of how Roma intend to balance competitions and whether Malen’s presence will be enough to offset the absences.
