The derby between Roma and Bologna in the Europa League round of 16 will surely send an Italian club into the quarter-finals, but their meeting is not necessarily good news for Serie A.
The directors of Bologna and Roma have admitted that an all-Italian Europa League last 16 between Giallorossi and Rossoblu is not exactly good news for the club or Italian football. And they’re not wrong.
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Bologna’s Marco Di Vaio admitted he would have done it I avoided playing against Romawhile Frédéric Massara has argued that the Serie A derby does not favor Italy in the UEFA coefficient rankings.
Bologna vs Roma bad for UEFA ranking
ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Evan Ferguson of AS Roma runs with the ball under pressure from Lorenzo De Silvestri of Bologna during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on August 23, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Serie A is in fifth place in the table, but with only four clubs still involved in European competitions, including one in the Champions League, Atalanta.
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Germany and Spain, Italy’s main rivals for second place in the UEFA rankings, which will give it an extra place in next season’s Champions League, have more representatives in total and more clubs still in contention in the Champions League: three for Spain and two for Germany.
Serie A will surely lose a club in the Europa League round of 16, with either Roma or Bologna eliminated, so naturally Italy will be even less likely to gain points in the race for an extra Champions League place.
Another reason for disappointment comes when the support is examined.
Aside from the fact that Bologna could have gained points against a German rival, Freiburg and Genk found themselves in what appears to be the softer side of the table alongside Ferencvaros, Braga, Panathinaikos, Real Betis, Celta and Lyon.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 26: Bologna players pose for a photo with supporters after their victory in the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League knockout play-off second leg match between Bologna FC 1909 and SK Brann at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on February 26, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
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On the other hand, the winner of Bologna-Roma will face Lille or Aston Villa, while the other four clubs on the same side of the table are Stuttgart, Porto, Nottingham Forest and Midtjylland.
Unlike the Champions League, there are no clear favorites in the Europa League this season, and Bologna and Roma appear to be credible candidates to advance to the later stages. However, such a draw will only allow one Serie A club to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Europa League Trophy (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP) (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images)
Finally, there is a “emotional aspect” that must be taken into account matters, as Bologna manager Di Vaio noted.
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Traveling abroad to face foreign opposition undoubtedly brings a different atmosphere. While Roma and Bologna will be fully motivated for either match, a domestic context inevitably takes away some of the appeal for fans and players.
