Athletic Club vs Roma Live Stream – Europa League Match Preview (13.03.25)

📅 Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025
🕒 Kick-off: 20:45 UTC+3
🏟️ Venue: San Mamés, Bilbao
🏆 Competition: UEFA Europa League – Round of 16
⚽ Coaches: Ernesto Valverde (Athletic Club), Claudio Ranieri (Roma)

Athletic Club takes on Roma in a highly anticipated UEFA Europa League Round of 16 showdown at San Mamés. Ernesto Valverde’s Bilbao side is known for their intense pressing and home dominance, while Claudio Ranieri’s Roma brings experience and defensive resilience to the tie.

Team Form and Standings

• Athletic Club: The La Liga side has been impressive at home, playing aggressive, high-intensity football.
• Roma: A tactically disciplined team, Roma focuses on structured defense and efficient counter-attacks.

Key Players to Watch

• Athletic Club:
  • Iñaki Williams: The pacey forward is Athletic’s main attacking outlet.
  • Nico Williams: The younger Williams brother provides creativity and dribbling ability.
  • Dani Vivian: The solid center-back will be crucial in stopping Roma’s attack.
• Roma:
  • Paulo Dybala: The Argentine playmaker can unlock defenses with his vision and finishing.
  • Lorenzo Pellegrini: The Roma captain controls the midfield and creates attacking chances.
  • Chris Smalling: The experienced defender leads Roma’s backline.

Tactical Approaches

• Athletic Club (Ernesto Valverde):
  • High pressing to force turnovers and disrupt Roma’s buildup.
  • Using Iñaki Williams’ speed to exploit defensive gaps.
  • Strong aerial presence on set-pieces.
• Roma (Claudio Ranieri):
  • Compact defensive setup with quick counter-attacks.
  • Utilizing Dybala’s creativity to break down Athletic’s press.
  • Targeting set-pieces to create goal-scoring chances.

Betting Tips

1. Both Teams to Score (BTTS) – Both teams have dangerous attacking players.
2. Under 3.5 Goals – A tactical battle is expected with a low-scoring outcome.
3. Paulo Dybala to Score Anytime – Roma’s most creative player is a goal-scoring threat.

Prediction

• Athletic Club 1-1 Roma – A balanced game with both teams likely sharing the spoils.