Bitter debut for Roma in the Europa League, 1-1 against Athletic Bilbao

Dovbyk-goal launches Roma, but Aitor Paredes freezes the Olimpico in the final: the match between the Giallorossi and Athletic Bilbao ends in a draw, valid for the first day of the Europa League, with Juric who can still be satisfied with the good performance from his team. The Roma new coach fields Hermoso from the first minute, while in midfield there is room for Baldanzi alongside Koné and Cristante, given the absence of Pellegrini.

Among the Spanish ranks, however, the great bogeyman Nico Williams was initially on the bench. It is the older brother Inaki who scores the first chance of the match after a deep run behind Hermoso, but his precariously balanced shot ends up high. The Giallorossi struggle to get out and rely on frequent long balls. In one of these Dovbyk wins the melee with Vivian but, instead of trying the shot, he tries to attack, being closed by Agirrezabala. Roma raise their center of gravity and take control of the operations, finalizing the positive moment in the 32nd minute: Dybala’s magic in midfield, Baldanzi opens for Angelino who draws a perfect cross for Dovbyk, who doesn’t make a mistake with his head alone.

At the start of the second half, Dybala-Soulé relay, with the former Frosinone player having a great opportunity in the 54th minute: Aitor Paredes slips and leaves a highway to the Argentine, whose diagonal shot is well saved by Agirrezabala. Half an hour from the end, Nico Williams entered the field and immediately served a dangerous cross to Guruzeta, who was blocked by the Giallorossi rearguard.

In the 71st minute Celik collapsed due to a physical problem and Juric launched Abdulhamid, making his debut with the Capitoline team. The intensity remains high, but the match is lacking in emotion, with Roma appearing to be in control and Athletic relying on the solitary gusts of the Williams brothers. The favorable episode for the Basques can only come from a free kick: in the 85th minute Berenguer’s cross from a free kick finds Nunez’s side on which Aitor Paredes emerges and strikes Svilar. There is room for an opportunity not exploited by Hermoso, but the result no longer changes.