Coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s “giallorosso” team is tenth in the Europa League league phase with 12 points, while his colleague Vincenzo Italiano’s “rossoblú” is thirteenth with 11 points.
The teams that finish the league phase in the top 8 places will advance directly to the round of 16, while those that finish between 9th and 24th places must compete in a playoff for a ticket to the next stage.
“The team is fine, except for (Spanish Mario) Hermoso and the usual injuries. We are in good physical shape, and tomorrow’s game will be very close to the duel against Milan, which is now the game of most attention,” warned Gasperini, who already won the Europa League with Atalanta.
The coach of Rome was alluding to the duel that the “giallorosso” team, fourth in Serie A with 42 points, will play on Sunday the 25th at home against Milan (46), second to the leader Inter (49), for the 22nd date of the “Calcio” first division tournament.
“We are in a good position in the Europa League. With a win, we have a good chance of avoiding the playoffs.
But now, the league is where we focus the most. We have earned this position over the months and we will do everything possible to defend it and, if possible, improve it,” Gasperini guaranteed at a press conference.
On the other hand, Gasperini relativized the possibility for Rome to qualify for the next edition of the Champions League if it won the Europa League: “remember that the case preceding that of Atalanta occurred in the 90s,” he stressed in reference to Parma, which won the 1998-99 edition of the then called UEFA Cup.
“If the only reward is the title, we will be eternally disappointed. Winning in Europe has become a problem for Italian clubs, and the games of recent days show it,” argued Gasperini, who plans to field tomorrow the Brazilian Wesley and the Argentine Matías Soulé, whose compatriot Paulo Dybala will be a substitute with Milan in mind.
“We need to change our approach, look at ourselves and improve,” concluded Gasperini, who decided to interrupt the loan of Jamaican striker Leon Bailey, who has already returned to England to rejoin Aston Villa.
On the other hand, the authorities of the Italian capital reinforced the security operation in view of the imminent arrival of some 5,000 Stuttgart fans, many of whom will try to access the Olympic stadium despite lacking the corresponding ticket.
A decision was made by the Bologna authorities in view of the match that Bologna will play against Glasgow Celtic, which is twenty-fourth with 7 points, five less than Stuttgart.
About 3,000 Scottish supporters will arrive in Bologna to cheer on Celtic, which is why a security operation is announced with 300 agents from the State Police, the Carabinieri, the Finance Guard, the penitentiary police and the local police.
On a sporting level, meanwhile, Bologna will seek to recover from the unexpected 2-1 defeat suffered last Sunday the 18th against Fiorentina, which is fighting for permanence, for the 21st date of Serie A that left the “rossoblú” in eighth place in Serie A with 30 points.
“We are in a strange moment, the pass book, physical condition and mental health are affecting us. But we have the opportunity to achieve something important in Europe and secure a place in the top 8 or at least a place in the playoffs,” Italiano remarked.
“Celtic is not at its best, but they have changed their coach and are playing in a similar way to Fiorentina. We have some discomfort, but we will have to be prepared and make Renato Dall’Ara our stronghold again,” stressed the Bologna coach, who announced that Argentine Benjamín Domínguez “has a good chance of starting tomorrow”, while his compatriot worked out in the gym after complaining of some discomfort.
Parties and positions.
Malmoe-Red Star.
Fenerbahce-Aston Villa.
Young Boys-Olympique Lyon.
Feyenoord-Sturm Graz.
Fire Central Jutland.
PAOK-Betis.
Bologna-Celtic de Glasgow.
Friburgo-Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Viktoria Plzen-Porto.
Glasgow Rangers-Ludogorets.
Rome-Stuttgart.
Salzburg-Basel.
Dinamo Zagreb-Steaua de Bucarest.
Braga-Nottingham Forest.
Utrecht-Genk.
Niza-Go Ahead Eagles.
Ferencvar-Panathinaikos.
Celta de Vigo-Lille.
POSITIONS: Lyon, Midtjylland and Aston Villa 15 points; Betis, Freiburg and Ferencvaros 14; Braga and Porto 13; Stuttgart and Rome 12; Nottingham Forest, Fenerbahce and Bologna 11; Viktoria Plzen, Panathinaikos, Genk and Red Star 10; PAOK, Celta, Lille and Young Boys 9; Brann 8; Ludogorets, Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb 7; Basel, Steaua and Go Ahead Eagles 6; Sturm Graz 4; Feyenoord and Salzburg 3; Utrecht, Rangers, Malmoe and Maccabi Tel Aviv 1; Nice 0. (ANSA).
