Roma Eyes Europa League Knockout Spot with Key Lineup Changes

ROME, Italy — AS Roma prepares for a crucial Europa League clash in the Netherlands on Thursday, aiming to secure their place in the knockout stages. Manager Claudio Ranieri is expected to field a strong lineup, with key players returning after a weekend rest following their Serie A match against Genoa last Friday.

The Giallorossi will likely deploy their usual defensive trio of Evan Ndicka, Gianluca Mancini, and Mats Hummels, with Mile Svilar guarding the goal. Angeliño and Alexis Saelemaekers are set to occupy the wide roles, while Manu Koné returns to central midfield. Paulo Dybala will spearhead the attack, supported by Artem Dovbyk as the striker.

Two potential changes from Friday’s lineup could see Niccoló Pisilli starting in central midfield alongside Koné, and Stephan El Shaarawy, who scored the winning goal against Genoa, joining Dybala in support of Dovbyk. This tactical adjustment reflects Ranieri’s strategy to balance squad rotation with the need for a strong performance in Europe.

Roma’s upcoming Serie A fixture against Udinese on Sunday is expected to see more rotation, as the team prioritizes securing their Europa League progression. The projected lineup for Thursday’s match is: Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Koné, Pisilli, Angeliño; Dybala, El Shaarawy; Dovbyk.