Roma’s director, Frederic Massara, expresses his pleasure at Paulo Dybala’s return to the starting lineup and shares insights about potential transfer targets from the Midtjylland squad, highlighting their abundance of talent.
The match kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 17.45 GMT.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma takes a penalty kick which is saved by Mike Maignan of AC Milan (not pictured) during the Serie A match between AC Milan and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The only players still unavailable are Artem Dovbyk and Angelino. Few anticipated Dybala being thrust back into the starting XI so soon after being sidelined for three weeks due to a muscular injury.
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Dybala picked up the injury while attempting to take a penalty in the loss against AC Milan, while defender Daniele Ghilardi is set to make his first start after two brief appearances from the bench.
Massara Pleased with Roma’s Progress
epa11945274 AS Roma supporters before the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg match between AS Roma and Athletic Bilbao at the Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, 06 March 2025. EPA-EFE/ETTORE FERRARI
“Having Paulo back is excellent news; his absence was significant for us, and we are also glad to have Leon Bailey back on the bench,” Massara stated to Sky Sport Italia.
Could Dybala’s early return influence any considerations regarding his contract extension at the conclusion of this season?
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“We have a month to assess how Dybala performs and to contemplate our overall approach for the attack.”
While the Giallorossi currently sit atop Serie A, their performances in the Europa League have been inconsistent. They’ve bizarrely managed to win both away fixtures against Nice and Rangers, yet suffered defeats at home against Lille and Viktoria Plzen.
Tonight, they face the surprising Midtjylland, who have emerged as leaders in the European group stage after winning all four matches, including an away victory against Nottingham Forest.
“Midtjylland has numerous talented players, and we’ve seen significant growth in Scandinavian football due to their investments and hard work, which is reflected in their success,” Massara remarked.
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Are Roma closely monitoring striker Dju Franculino for a possible transfer in January?
“Franculino is indeed a promising talent, but many names are floated around, and quite a few are not practical for the January window. Midtjylland also boasts talents like Gogorza and Diao, but we know the January transfer window is generally defined by what is possible and what is not,” he concluded.