AS Roma will host Lille in the second round of the league phase of the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 season. Both clubs are hoping to make it two from two at the Stadio Olimpico after winning their respective opening games Softfootball reports
Domestically and in Europe, Roma’s form has been impressive with six wins in their last seven matches, they only lost against Torino. Gasperini’s tactical system which blends a well-structured backline with fluid attacking movement is paying dividends. With no major injury concerns reported, Roma are expected to field a full-strength squad, combining seasoned players with young talents ready to shine.
The Giallorossi did well to beat Nice 2-1 on the road in their Europa League opener and they must be high on confidence following three consecutive wins in all competitions. As new boss Gian Piero Gasperini is doing a great job with the capital club, home win should be considered.
Roma defeated Hellas Verona 2-0 on Sunday, their fifth win in six matches. They can start the main draw with back-to-back wins for only the second time since the competition was rebranded from the UEFA Cup ahead of the 2009/10 campaign after their 2-1 win at Nice last Wednesday. The Giallorossi have won ten of their last 12 games since the end of last season, so they are confident, and a quick check on their X handle shows that they are ready for the clash.
In contrast, Lille arrive in Rome still reeling from a disappointing 3-0 loss to RC Lens. Despite controlling possession for long stretches, they struggled to turn chances into goals, an issue that has plagued their recent performances. Bruno Génésio’s side is dangerous in attack however, yet defensive frailties remain a concern for the Ligue 1 side.
The French side has been conceding at a rate of 1.6 goals per game this season, a weakness that Roma’s set-piece expertise and aggressive pressing will be eager to exploit. Génésio is under pressure to find tactical solutions quickly if Lille are to avoid slipping further behind in their group campaign.
Lille have lost two of their last three matches after losing 1-0 to Lyon last weekend. Their only win came on the opening matchday of their UEL campaign when they beat Brann 2-1. They have never started the competition under its current name with consecutive wins, but they could emulate this season’s three wins in four matches. But only three wins in 16 UEL away games and three wins in their last ten competitive road games suggest they face a tough task.
Team News
Roma forwards Paulo Dybala and Leon Bailey are still sidelined by injury, with Gasperini expecting them to return after the next international break, when his team host Inter Milan. Mario Hermoso (calf) and Brazilian wing-back Wesley (flu) returned to the squad on Wednesday, so both should be contenders to play this weekend.
Following his shock start in the derby, Lorenzo Pellegrini was back on the bench in midweek, but he seems to have worked his way into the reckoning for now. Up front, Artem Dovbyk will vie with Evan Ferguson in a battle of misfiring strikers: though he has found the net twice for Ireland this season, the latter’s last club goal came 11 months ago.
Lille manager Bruno Génésio has to choose from a squad that has some fitness concerns. A muscle strain kept Alexsandro out of the Lille lineup last week, Thomas Meunier had a sore groin, Benjamin Andre was out due to a knock and Romain Perraud left in the opening half because of an ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Ousmane Toure and Tiago Santos sat out with cruciate ligament tears, while an elbow issue left Marc-Aurele Caillard on the sidelines once again.
Possible Lineups
AS Roma Possible Lineups: Svilar; Hermoso, Mancini, Ndicka; Wesley, Cristante, Kone, Angelino; Soule, Pellegrini; Ferguson
Lille possible starting lineup: Ozer; Mandi, Ngoy, Mbemba, Verdonk; Bentaleb, Bouaddi; Fernandez-Pardo, Haraldsson, Sahraoui; Giroud
SoftFootball’s Prediction
At the Olimpico, expect Roma to dictate possession and use their midfield dominance to carve out chances, particularly from set pieces where they have been lethal. Lille, on the other hand may seek to absorb pressure and hit Roma on the counter, relying on pace and creativity from their wingers to exploit gaps.
The managerial duel between Gasperini’s pragmatism and Génésio’s adaptability could well decide the tempo of the evening. Given Roma’s consistency, home advantage, and Lille’s defensive struggles, the Italian side enter the clash as clear favorites. Lille certainly have the firepower to make things difficult, but Roma’s balance between defense and attack should prove decisive.
