Daniele Ghilardi is set to make his first start in the Roma jersey after impressing coach Gian Piero Gasperini. He cautions that Midtjylland has already delivered unexpected performances in the Europa League.
The match kicks off at Stadio Olimpico at 17:45 GMT.
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Gasperini has made some surprising choices in his starting lineup, including reintroducing Paulo Dybala after a three-week absence due to a muscle injury.
Surprising Inclusion of Ghilardi in the Roma Starting XI
Daniele Ghilardi stands with Roma director Frederic Massara after signing with the Giallorossi (asroma.com).
This is Ghilardi’s first start after only playing six minutes this season. He reflects on why it took time to gain the coach’s trust.
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“I don’t know, you’d have to ask him,” Ghilardi told Sky Sport Italia.
“I was aware from the beginning that patience and hard work would be essential, given the talent in the squad. I accepted my starting position upon arrival, knowing I needed to climb the ranks.”
CREMONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Coach Gian Piero Gasperini reacts during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and AS Roma at Stadio Giovanni Zini on November 23, 2025, in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
As Roma sits atop the Serie A table, Midtjylland leads the Europa League standings, having achieved four consecutive victories against Sturm Graz, Nottingham Forest, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Celtic.
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“Midtjylland is a formidable opponent with a flawless record in the Europa League, so we can’t take them lightly just because their name isn’t among the tournament’s marquee teams. We need to give everything we have and aim for a clean sheet, which is the coach’s directive.”