Porto-Roma: the Capitoline team in Portugal for the first leg of the play-offs, lineups and TV times

Porto 12 February 2025 - The time for accounts, three points or calculations to obtain a more or less positive positioning and then see what happens is over. Winning means surviving and continuing to chase the Cup, losing means abandoning all hope and letting yourself go to a finale without any more "distractions" from the simple championship. Tomorrow, Thursday 13 February, the knockout phase of Europa League and for Roma this means flying to Portugal and facing the Harbour at Estadio Do Dragao. Kick-off set for 21:XNUMX p.m. for the play-off of the round of XNUMX, perhaps the most balanced and on paper the one with the highest potential, between two teams that were candidates for the final title, but who stumbled in a terrible championship phase.

Il Harbour is undergoing a renewal and in addition to not being the best version of its recent past, it is not even experiencing its best form. In the championship it is in third place, reached in the standings by Sporting Braga, after having drawn in the direct clash against the Sporting Lisbon, in the Portuguese football classic called Dragons vs Leos (Dragons vs. Lions). The recent results had already distanced the white-blues from the top spot of their Lisbon rivals, but this draw has not changed the gap in the standings, relegating the Porto team to only third place. All this after a month of January where every day the possibility of taking the top spot in the standings at the expense of the white-greens was missed. This at the time cost the bench to Victor Bruno, making it arrive Martin Anselmi, now the Dragons' technical chief. The European play-off with the Roma It's a great chance to show off not only for the Argentine coach, at his first experience in Europe, but also for his squad: young and bold, as well as full of talent. From the cover man, the 2004-born striker Samu Agheowa Omorodion, to the various Pepe, Fabio Vieira e Alan Varela, in addition to the former Serie A players Tiago Djalo e Nehuen Perez, all quality players chasing an important scalp on their European journey.

La Roma will start from having to face his own demons and taboos that still need to be dispelled. Under the guidance of Claudio Ranieri the team has recovered a rhythm from Champions League in the championship, but something is still missing to have the continuity typical of the great teams. That something extra was missing precisely in Europa League, where the Giallorossi confirmed that they were great at home but also vulnerable away from home. Since the defeat againstAZ Alkmaar, to the success against theEintracht Frankfurt It's difficult to determine what the potential of this team is. In Serie A the away taboo has fallen, mostly with two consecutive victories, as if to symbolize a crisis that has been overcome. Now it is necessary to confirm ourselves in Europe, where for now instead the Roma has not yet shown the consistency of performance needed to avoid this type of challenge so early. Do Dragao is the perfect place to test the Giallorossi's continental ambitions: Ranieri he stressed a few weeks ago how the cup is important to get money into the budget to reinvest in the market and winning it would mean maximizing the funds to continue the evolution of the Lupacchiotti.

For the first leg of the knockout stage of the play-off between Harbour e Roma of the Estadio Do Dragao, the Uefa has selected an all-German refereeing team, both on the pitch and in the VAR room. The match will be officiated by Tobias Stieler, assisted by assistants Christian Gittelmann and Mark Borsch. The fourth official will be Sören Storks, while the VAR room will be occupied by Christian Dingert and Florian Badstübner. An experienced referee, born in 1981, from the Hamburg section, he has been an international since 2014. For him, it will be match number 26 of the season, number 2 in Europa League. The referee adds to this another 9 international matches between Champions League (7) and Nations League (2), in addition to 10 of Bundesliga, 2 of Bundesliga 2, 2 of German Cup and 1 by German Super Cup. Third career clash with the Portuguese, the second this season, after having refereed the 3-3 draw against Manchester United, in the previous match instead the success was 0-1 Harbour against Krasnodar. Two precedents also with Roma, both victorious, even if they dated respectively 7 and 8 years ago, against Viktoria Plzen (4-1) and Qarabag (1-0).

Probable lineups

No doubts at home Harbour, the best available players will play Martin Anselmi chasing a precious result against a probably stronger team. Diogo Costa will be the leader between the posts, protected by the three-man line composed of otavio, Pérez e Djalo, with Zé Pedro however threatening his rivals for a starting shirt. Joao Mario to the right, Francisco Mora on the left, they will run to midfield alongside Eustaquio e blackberry, while Varela will act as a metronome behind them. Up front, the offensive duo will see Pepe to flank Samu Omorodion. 

La Roma focus on the first team to face the Harbour. In front of Silker, there will be a trio in defense Mancini, Hummels e N'Dicka. On the outside there is space for Saelemaekers e Angelino, while the couple composed of will return to the center Koné e Paredes. Pellegrini should return to the starting lineup in the three-quarter line, otherwise space will be given to one of El Shaarawy or Pisilli alongside Dybalawhile it is dovbyk the reference in attack.

Harbour (3-1-4-2) Diogo Costa; Otávio, Pérez, Djaló; Varela; Joao Mario, Eustaquio, Mora, Moura; Pepe, Omorodion. All. Martin Anselmi.

Roma (3-4-2-1) Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Koné, Paredes, Angeliño; Dybala, Pellegrini; Dovbyk. Coach Claudio Ranieri.

Where to watch the match

The match between Harbour e Roma of the Estadio Do Dragao, valid for the first leg of the play-offs of the knockout stage of Europa League, will start at 21pm on Thursday 13 February 2025. There will be several options available to watch the match. The match will be visible on satellite on the platform Sky, to the channels Sky Sports One (channel 201) e Sky Sports channel 252. The match will also be available in streaming on NOW for those who have subscribed to the platform and on Sky Go for those who have a season ticket Sky. You can follow the match by downloading the app on your smart TV or by connecting the TV to a PlayStation 4/5, Xbox console, or to a TIMVISION BOX, to an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast device. Viewing also possible via app or website NOW on tablets, PCs and smartphones. The commentary of the match will be entrusted to Maurizio Compagnoni and Blerim Dzemaili.