{"id":946306,"date":"2026-03-11T16:36:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T16:36:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/football-italia.net\/?p=946306"},"modified":"2026-03-11T16:36:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T16:36:46","slug":"italiano-bologna-hope-tease-roma-weakness-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/football-italia.net\/italiano-bologna-hope-tease-roma-weakness-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Italiano: ‘Bologna hope to tease Roma weakness out’","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Vincenzo Italiano admits he would gladly have avoided the all-Italian Europa League duel with Roma, but Bologna \u2018hope to tease some weaknesses out of them tomorrow.\u2019<\/p>

It kicks off on Thursday at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET) at the Stadio Dall\u2019Ara.<\/p>

The draw was unkind to the Italian teams, as while it means at least there will be one representative in the quarter-finals, it can only be one of the two sides who entered the tournament.<\/p>

Bologna had a terrible start to 2026 and seemingly had turned a corner with a run of victories, but faltered again at the weekend with their home defeat to rock bottom Hellas Verona.<\/a><\/p>

Italiano would have avoided Bologna vs. Roma<\/h2>
\"BOLOGNA,
BOLOGNA, ITALY \u2013 JANUARY 22: Vincenzo Italiano head coach of Bologna FC looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2025\/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall\u2019Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cWe have already put that match behind us,\u201d assured Italiano in his press conference.<\/a><\/p>

\u201cRoma have some weaknesses and we hope to tease those out of them tomorrow. As I said before, I had hoped in a different draw, because we could\u2019ve gone far together in this competition, but instead one of the two Italians must go out.<\/p>

\u201cWe are stuttering in our home games lately, but hope to change that tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>

The coach gave injury updates, as Juan Miranda and Torbjorn Heggem are back in training, but it remains to be seen if either of them could start.<\/p>

He did hint that Tommaso Pobega has \u201ca very good chance\u201d of being in the starting XI, though Thijs Dallinga could finally give Santiago Castro some rest ahead of the Serie A showdown with Sassuolo.<\/p>

\"BIRMINGHAM,
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND \u2013 SEPTEMBER 25: Vincenzo Italiano, Head Coach of Bologna FC 1909, looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025\/26 League Phase MD1 match between Aston Villa FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Villa Park on September 25, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cRoma defend well and have now found a striker in Donyell Malen who is doing very well, giving their aggressive style of football an outlet. We know him too, as we already played against his Aston Villa earlier in the season.<\/p>

\u201cGian Piero Gasperini has set the example for all coaches, winning important trophies both at team and individual level. He continues to exhibit wonderful football and I have incredible respect for him.\u201d<\/p>

Will the two coaches go out to dinner together?<\/p>

\u201cWe\u2019d need a restaurant that stayed open late, because we\u2019d have so much to talk about!\u201d<\/p>

\"GENOA,
GENOA, ITALY \u2013 MARCH 8: Gian Piero Gasperini, head coach of Roma, looks on prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and AS Roma at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The second leg will be at the Stadio Olimpico next week, where the Rossoblu lost 1-0 in the opening game of the Serie A season back in August.<\/p>

\u201cI am not thinking about the second leg, because after tomorrow we already have another Serie A match to play, so there\u2019s time for that. Obviously, it won\u2019t be an easy atmosphere for us at the Olimpico, but we know that.<\/p>

\u201cThe trouble with an Italian derby is we know each other so very well. It\u2019s a new experience for me too, facing another Italian side in Europe.\u201d<\/p>

\"Santiago
Santiago Castro scores the opening goal for Bologna in the Europa League play-off 1st leg against SK Brann (@bolognafc1909)<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Bologna\u2019s home record has been the most surprising aspect of their campaign so far, as since the start of December 2025 they have amassed just three victories at the Stadio Dall\u2019Ara, two draws and eight losses in all competition.<\/p>

\u201cI analysed all those games, and some we deserved to lose, with others we could\u2019ve won with a bit more concentration. The attitude is not the issue, but we are paying a heavy price for some distractions, and have the time to make up for it,\u201d noted Italiano.<\/p>

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>

\u201cWe did win five games after that difficult period, and a situation like Verona can happen, in Serie A anybody can beat anyone else, it\u2019s always a struggle. We have more difficulty against teams who let us take control of the game, leading us to become a bit too superficial in our preventative marking.<\/p>

\u201cTomorrow is a big opportunity for us to progress in Europe, but we won\u2019t be able to judge the season until the end.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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