Facing a one-goal deficit after last week's first leg, Athletic Bilbao will try to keep their Europa League dream alive by beating Roma on Thursday.
The clubs clash at San Mames – the venue for this season's final - as Athletic attempt to pull off a last-16 comeback and move closer to starring in May's showpiece.
Match preview
Despite Inaki Williams nodding Athletic Club ahead from close range at Stadio Olimpico, the Basque side's lead did not last long, as Angelino fired home Roma's equaliser soon after.
When Yeray Alvarez was later sent off for receiving a second yellow card, the visitors were left hanging on for a draw, but their hosts then sent them back to Bilbao empty-handed by scoring with virtually the last kick.
Athletic's frustration continued on Sunday, when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Mallorca in La Liga; following an even first half, they conceded just after the restart, before Nico Williams struck back moments later.
Nonetheless, they are still on track for Champions League qualification, as Ernesto Valverde's men lead fifth-placed Villarreal by five points, having played one game more.
Though they have now produced two defeats and one draw from their last three matches in all competitions, Athletic still boast the third-best home record throughout Spain's top flight this season, averaging just over two points per game.
Furthermore, they have won all four Europa League fixtures at San Mames in the current campaign, and - either home or away - have scored at least once in all of their last 17.
Across all European competitions, a fine record of eight wins from 10 home games against Italian teams also suggests that history will be on their side when Roma come to town.
Yet, the Serie A side hold a precious advantage courtesy of Eldor Shomurodov's last-gasp intervention at the Olimpico, with his 94th-minute strike sealing a dramatic comeback.
As a result, Roma now have the most victories in the long history of UEFA's second-tier club competition, with 97 wins from 185 games.
Having progressed from each of their last nine European knockout ties when winning the first leg - a streak dating back to 2019 - they can justifiably claim that precedent points to a place in the quarter-finals.
While Athletic strode straight through to this round, the Giallorossi had to come through a nervy playoff with Porto, before avoiding city rivals Lazio in the draw. Now, they are intent on setting up a last-eight clash with either Rangers or a Fenerbahce side led by former boss Jose Mourinho.
Still unbeaten in Serie A this year, Claudio Ranieri's team continued their recent success streak on Sunday, as Matias Soule's early goal against Empoli made it both 12 league games without defeat and six wins on the spin.
Since Ranieri's return in November, only Italian league leaders Inter Milan have won more times across all competitions, and Roma are now on the fringe of fighting for a top-four finish.
Of course, the 73-year-old coach would love to ride such a wave and return to Bilbao in May, signing off an incredible career with one last piece of silverware.
Team News
As well as losing key defender Dani Vivian to injury in the first half of last week's first leg, fellow Athletic Club centre-back Yeray Alvarez was then sent off and he must now serve a suspension. Aitor Paredes could therefore partner Unai Nunez in a new-look back four.
Ernesto Valverde will also be without Oihan Sancet (thigh), but Alvaro Djalo has resumed full training and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta returns after a one-match domestic ban.
Once again, Inaki Williams is set to start alongside younger brother Nico Williams in the hosts' attack, with Gorka Guruzeta and Maroan Sannadi vying to join them.
Williams senior has netted five Europa League goals this term - the joint-most any Ghanaian has scored in a single European season, level with Tony Yeboah (in 1992-93), Michael Essien (2004-05), Patrick Twumasi (2017-18) and Mohammed Kudus (both 2022-23 and 2023-24).
Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri is set to make several changes to the Roma side that started in Empoli, bringing back key players such as Angelino and Paulo Dybala.
Gianluca Mancini missed that match through suspension, while Leandro Paredes served a one-match UEFA ban last week; both are now available.
As Zeki Celik will be absent with a thigh injury, Devyne Rensch could come into the Giallorossi's back three. Alternatively, either Mats Hummels or Victor Nelsson would be retained.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Nunez, Paredes, Yuri; Jauregizar, Ruiz De Galarreta; I. Williams, Gomez, N. Williams; Sannadi
Roma possible starting lineup:
Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Rensch, Kone, Paredes, Cristante, Angelino; Dybala, Dovbyk
We say: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Roma (Roma win 3-2 on aggregate)
Roma may have won just two of their last 12 away games in Spain, losing eight, but they are a team transformed under returning hero Claudio Ranieri.
Confidence is sky-high in the visitors' camp, while their hosts have been off the boil for a few weeks. So, Athletic's hopes of a home final could be curtailed.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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