Gasperini: Roma Confident in Zaragoza's Contribution, Unfazed by Defensive Concerns

Gian Piero Gasperini, the manager of Roma, has voiced his belief that Bryan Zaragoza will "give us a hand" as his team prepares to face Bologna in the Europa League Round of 16. Gasperini also stated he is not troubled by the team's recent defensive performance.

The highly anticipated match is set to kick off at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 17:45 GMT (18:45 CET).

The second leg of this tie will take place at the Stadio Olimpico next Thursday, ensuring only one Italian club will progress to the Europa League quarter-finals.

Gasperini Anticipates Impact from Zaragoza in European Debut for Roma

Having secured direct entry into the Europa League Round of 16 by finishing eighth in the league phase, Roma is now set to utilize new January signings Donyell Malen and Bryan Zaragoza, who were previously unavailable for UEFA competitions. Both players are slated to make their European debut in the Giallorossi jersey this evening.

Regarding Zaragoza, Gasperini commented, "Zaragoza arrived on transfer deadline day, so naturally he needs a little time to settle in. He has already participated in the few games we’ve played since his arrival and made a very important contribution to Malen’s goal against Napoli. Naturally, we expect him to help us out today."

There is a potential dilemma for the team regarding their focus, especially following a 3-3 draw against Juventus and a 2-1 defeat to Genoa. The upcoming Serie A clash for fourth place with Como could be seen as a priority.

Furthermore, squad rotation options are limited due to key absences: Gianluca Mancini is suspended, while Paulo Dybala, Matias Soulé, Artem Dovbyk, and Evan Ferguson are sidelined with injuries. Manu Koné and Mario Hermoso are also not at full fitness.

Gasperini addressed the team's recent defensive record, noting, "We've conceded more goals lately, but we also scored more against tough opponents like Juventus and Napoli. We were missing Hermoso for a long time, and Mancini is suspended today, so some difficulties were to be expected over the course of a campaign."

Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli offer versatility, capable of rotating between supporting the centre-forward or dropping into a deeper midfield role.