Today’s Europa League match between Roma and Stuttgart carries a lot of weight for the Giallorossi’s long-term hopes. A win here would make it far more likely that Roma makes the top eight after league
play, avoiding a messy play-in round featuring the clubs that land between ninth and twenty-fourth. Meanwhile, a draw or a loss might condemn the Giallorossi to that play-in; not the end of the world, but considering that Gian Piero Gasperini’s men are trying their hardest to hold on to top four in Serie A, every match they can avoid playing is a win for the side.
With that in mind, it’s interesting to look at just who Gasperini decided to start in this match. While some of the old standbys are there, including Mile Svilar, Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Matias Soulé, others look like they’re being a true shout at establishing themselves as serious options for consistent starting eleven spots moving forward. If someone like Daniele Ghilardi or Jan Ziolkowski impresses against a top four side in the Bundesliga, it will definitely open doors for them to push out part of Roma’s typical world-class defense in the future (assuming one of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N’Dicka, and Mario Hermoso suffer a drop in form or a truly serious injury). In addition, with Hermoso out for a month, if one of these starters (maybe even Zeki Celik or Devyne Rensch!) impress today, it will likely bode well for their ability to stay in the starting eleven for the next few weeks while the Spaniard recovers.
If they want to impress Gasperini, they can’t put in a ho-hum ninety minutes of B- defense; this somewhat inexperienced Roma backline will have their hands full today with Stuttgart. The German side’s lineup signals aggressive intent, particularly with Deniz Undav leading the line. His ability to drop deep and link play could drag Roma’s young center-backs out of position, testing their discipline early. Furthermore, the pace of Chris Führich and Jamie Leweling on the wings will force Roma’s wide players to be cautious, potentially pinning them back and limiting the Giallorossi’s ability to support Evan Ferguson on the counter.
Looking further up the pitch for the Giallorossi, I’m intrigued to see how Ferguson responds to getting the Europa League start today. Part of this selection by Gasperini is certainly down to necessity; with Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz not eligible for Europa League play until after league play has concluded, Ferguson is Roma’s sole “normal” striker available. Yet just as Ziolkowski and Ghilardi might be able to reap long-term rewards by showing their stuff today, if Ferguson can get a goal or two at the Olimpico, it will make things that much harder for Frederic Massara when it comes to considering whether to keep Ferguson at the end of this season. Right now, with the Vaz and Malen signings, such a full-time transfer seems unlikely; but if Roma manages to get top four football and Ferguson shows all that promise that once warranted a projected €100 million valuation? Some interesting decisions will have to be made.
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