Roma vs Athletic Bilbao: 11/8 and 29/20 tips for Europa League collision

Two of the Europa League big-hitters collide when Roma host Athletic Bilbao in their round of sixteen first leg clash on Thursday.

Odds Now's Brad Walker (@brad_TWalker) has taken a closer look at the match-up and picked out two fancies ahead of kick-off in the Italian capital.

Roma vs Athletic Bilbao analysis - Hosts a formidable foe on home turf

The hosts come into this one in superb form, having recorded four consecutive victories on the bounce and lost just one game in their last 10 on all competitions.

Roma are also without a home defeat since the start of December, with only three sides in Serie A boasting better records on their own patch than Claudio Ranieri's side.

That positive form has carried over in their Europa League exploits. Roma have won four and drawn one of their five European matches at the Stadio Olimpico this term, keeping three clean sheets in the process.

Compare with the form of visiting Bilbao, who head to the Italian capital having suffered a 1-0 loss at title-chasing Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

The defeat was the Basque side's first in six, though they are now winless in their last four away matches in all competitions. That run includes a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Besiktas back in January.

Best bets for Roma vs Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, March 6, 2025

Selection #1 - Roma to win - 11/8

Roma's upturn in form since Ranieri's arrival as manager has been remarkable. The Italian took the reins midway through November and, after failing to win any of his first three in charge, has steered his side to only three losses in their next 20.

Roma go into Thursday evening unbeaten in eight and have also avoided defeat in their last three Europa League matches, two of which ended in a win. Hardly a comfortable read for Bilbao given their recent woes on the road.

Add the fact they've lost just two of their previous 38 home matches in UEFA competition and the 11/8 price on offer for a home win looks incredibly appealing.

Selection #2 - Over 1.5+ Roma goals - 29/20

Ranieri's men have endured their fair share of struggles on the road, but have more than made up for it at the Olimpico. Having averaged a measly 0.8 scored in Europa League away fixtures, Roma have netted an average of exactly two goals in home games so far. They've also scored in 100% of these matches and bagged over 1.5 in three of the five.

Ernesto Valverde's Bilbao have hardly been watertight at the back either. They've claimed only two clean sheets in their previous 10 in all competitions and have shut out opposition in just one European away fixture this term.

Yet, the hosts still come in at a juicy 29/20 to score at least twice in this one. That's another price worth jumping on in my eyes.

Brad Walker's Roma vs Athletic Bilbao best bets