AS Roma prepares for their Europa League match against AZ Alkmaar. Coach Ranieri emphasizes hard work, acknowledging AZ’s strong home record. Key players feature in the predicted lineup.
AS Roma is gearing up for their upcoming Europa League match against AZ Alkmaar in Holland, with the aim of securing a spot in the knockout rounds of the competition. Coach Claudio Ranieri is expected to field a strong starting lineup, capitalizing on the team’s recent rest since their last game against Genoa. However, some changes are anticipated for the subsequent Serie A match against Udinese, suggesting a focus on managing player fitness across both competitions.
AZ Alkmaar and Roma are set to face off in a Europa League match with both teams vying for a top-eight finish in the league stage. AZ Alkmaar currently holds a slightly better position due to their consistent performance, but Roma is close behind. AZ has a solid home record in European competitions, having lost only two of their last 34 home games. Roma, despite some inconsistencies, has a good record against Dutch opponents, including a Conference League final win against Feyenoord.
AZ’s coach, Maarten Martens, aims to capitalize on their home advantage, while Roma’s veteran coach, Claudio Ranieri, seeks to continue their recent revival. Key players for AZ include Troy Parrott, who was named Eredivisie’s player of the month for December, though Ruben van Bommel is out injured. Roma’s attack may feature Artem Dovbyk and Paulo Dybala, with potential rotation to keep players fresh for upcoming Serie A and Coppa Italia matches. Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini have returned to training, giving Ranieri a full squad to choose from.
The predicted lineups suggest a balanced approach from both sides. Sports Mole predicts a 2-2 draw, considering AZ’s strong home form and Roma’s potential fragility on the road. The match is anticipated to be entertaining, with both teams in good form.
Roma’s coach, Claudio Ranieri, expressed respect for AZ Alkmaar ahead of their Europa League match, emphasizing the team’s good shape and desire to improve in the competition. Roma is currently one point ahead of AZ Alkmaar in their group. Ranieri avoided making promises beyond hard work and sacrifice, a principle he’s followed throughout his career. He acknowledged Roma’s struggles with away games, noting AZ Alkmaar’s strong home record but expressed hope for breaking that streak. When questioned about resting key players like Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala, Ranieri remained secretive about the lineup. Roma has recently acquired Devyn Rensch on loan from Ajax, with Ranieri praising his skills in both attack and defense, while acknowledging areas for improvement. A fan commented hoping that Italian teams except Laziomerda wins the tournament.
The predicted lineup for Roma features Svilar in goal, a defensive trio of Ndicka, Mancini, and Hummels. Angeliño and Saelemaekers will occupy the wide positions. In midfield, Koné will be joined by Pisilli, who could get a start. Dybala and El Shaarawy will support Dovbyk in attack. Stephan El Shaarawy is set to start after his winning goal. The probable formation is: Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Koné, Pisilli, Angeliño; Dybala, El Shaarawy; Dovbyk.
Sources: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/az/europa-league/preview/preview-az-vs-roma-prediction-team-news-lineups_563508.html
https://football-italia.net/ranieri-roma-have-great-respect-for-az-alkmaar/
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2025/1/23/24350021/probable-formations-az-alkmaar-vs-roma