Roma conclude their Europa League group stage with an away game against CSKA Sofia on Thursday evening.
With qualification as group winners already secured, Roma will field an experimental side. Key players such as Edin Dzeko, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini are not even in the squad.
Among the more senior players who are available, though, is Chris Smalling. The defender has finally shaken off a minor injury, although he is not yet ready to play 90 minutes. He will likely play some part, though.
Pedro is also available despite facing a suspension in the next league match after his red card against Sassuolo.
The majority of the squad has a more youthful feel to it. Paulo Fonseca has confirmed that Primavera midfielder Tommaso Milanese – who has impressed in two substitute appearances in this competition – will make his first start for the club.
Fellow academy graduate Riccardo Calafiori is almost certain to start again after his wonder goal in his last game. Leonardo Spinazzola is not in the squad, so Calafiori should take the left-back role.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere are also call-ups for some Primavera players who have not yet played for the senior team. Mory Bamba is involved for the first time, while fellow winger Riccardo Ciervo could receive his debut from the bench.
Midfielder Edoardo Bove, who recently signed a new contract, could also be looking to come on. Filippo Tripi, who made his debut on matchday four against Cluj, is in contention as well.
If Fonseca plays any Primavera product for the first time, he will become the coach to have given the most debuts to academy graduates at Roma since Rudi Garcia. Having already promoted Calafiori, Milanese and Tripi, one more would see him overtake Eusebio Di Francesco’s tally of three.
With little pressure on the result – Roma are already guaranteed to be a top seed for the Round of 32 draw – it will be a good environment for some youngsters to show what they can do. However, there is a result at stake, and the club will be looking to get straight back to winning ways on the road.
Even with an experimental squad, Roma have a strong chance of winning. Their opponents have not even scored in their previous five group matches – nor in five past meetings with Roma.
However, the Bulgarian side are the only team to have taken points off Roma in Group A, after a goalless draw on matchday two.
Either a win or draw would ensure Roma complete the group stage unbeaten. The last time that happened for the club in a European competition was in the 2016-17 Europa League.
With the competition not set to resume until February after this game, it will be the end of a small chapter in the season after which the focus will change.
For now, though, Roma’s fringe players will be aiming to prove their worth in an intriguing match.
The game kicks off at 5:55pm UK time and those with a BT Sport subscription can watch it here.
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