Roma vs Athletic Club Prediction: Dybala delight may not be enough for hosts to triumph

It's been a pretty disastrous start to the season for AS Roma, whose decision to sack club legend Daniele De Rossi after a four-game winless run caused consternation among supporters. However, new head coach Ivan Juric led I Giallorossi to a 3-0 victory over Udinese in his first match on Sunday, and the Croatian will manage his first European game in charge of the club on Thursday (20:00, TNT Sports 3) when Athletic Club come to the Stadio Olimpico.

Read below for my Roma vs Athletic Club prediction ahead of this Europa League clash in Rome.

Team News

Summer signings Alexis Saelemakers and Enzo Le Fee are both injured and unable to make their European bows for Roma this week, and I Giallorossi skipper Lorenzo Pellegrini could join the duo on the sidelines as he nurses a knee complaint.

After failing to score in his first four Roma games following his big-money move from Girona, Ukrainian striker Artem Dobvyk has now netted in back-to-back matches and could get the nod to start again on Thursday in a bid to keep up his confidence.

He could be joined in attack by fellow new arrival Matias Soule, who hasn't started either of Roma's last two games. Tommaso Baldanzi is another in contention to play from the beginning after his goalscoring substitute appearance on Sunday, while German centre-back Mats Hummels and Saudi Arabian full-back Saud Abdulhamid could make their debuts for the club.

Football Odds

Athletic Club are without Yeray Alvarez, Yuri Berchiche, Oihan Sancet and first-choice goalkeeper Unai Simon for the trip to Rome. Worryingly, back-up shot-stopper Julen Agirrezabala was withdrawn at half-time on Sunday as the Basque club beat Celta Vigo 3-1 in Bilbao, so if the 23-year-old hasn't recovered from whatever issue he felt, 21-year-old Mexican Alex Padilla will start Athletic's first league phase game of the competition.

Spain star Nico Williams is also a major doubt for Thursday's game after missing the weekend win against Celta Vigo.

Roma vs Athletic Club Odds

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Roma are 21/20 to kick off Juric's reign with back-to-back victories, giving the Italians an implied win probability of 48.8%, while Athletic are 11/4, or a 26.7% chance, to triumph in the capital.

The draw is available at 23/10, both teams to score at 5/6, and over 2.5 total goals at 11/10.

Double Chance & Both Teams to Score - Draw or Athletic Club & Yes @ 15/8

Sunday was a much-needed confidence boost for Roma, who got Juric off to the best possible start on his debut. However, while Udinese had won their last three games and were unbeaten heading into the Serie A contest in Rome, Sunday's visitors to the Stadio Olimpico only survived relegation to Serie B on the final day of the 2023/24 campaign, and Athletic should prove a considerably tougher opponent on Thursday.

The Basque club failed to win either of their first two La Liga matches, being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Getafe on the opening night before losing 2-1 at Barcelona, but they won four of their next five to sit third in the Spanish top flight heading into the weekend. They've scored at least twice in their last three games and will back themselves to trouble Roma's backline on Thursday.

Athletic have only kept two clean sheets in seven outings so far, however, so I don't have too much confidence in their own defence.

Nevertheless, I think they look well-placed to avoid defeat in Italy, which makes the 15/8 for a draw or Athletic win, coupled with both teams scoring, an enticing price.

Anytime Goal Scorer - Paulo Dybala (ROM) @ 9/5

Paulo Dybala appeared destined for a move to the Middle East during the summer but the Argentine eventually decided to extend his stay in Rome to a third season, much to the delight of Romanistis.

The 30-year-old started the season slowly, failing to score in his first four appearances, but he got off the mark on the weekend, netting from the penalty spot against Udinese.

His dead-ball ability - from penalties or free-kicks - only add to his chances of scoring, which are already pretty high considering the immense talent he possesses.

Dybala scored five times in 11 Europa League appearances for Roma in 2022/23 but only managed two in nine last season.

He'll be looking to do better in the competition this time around, and 9/5 looks a decent price for him to open up his European campaign this term with a strike against Athletic.

Offers

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