Bologna vs. Roma: Lineups & Game Thread

TL;DR

Bologna faces AS Roma today in a crucial match for the Giallorossi, who welcome back Paulo Dybala and Wesley França. Roma seeks revenge after being eliminated by Bologna in the Europa League, while dealing with internal turmoil following Claudio Ranieri's departure.

Key points

Bologna is currently in 8th place in Serie A.
Paulo Dybala and Wesley França return to the AS Roma squad.
Claudio Ranieri was dismissed amid controversy.
Bologna has a strong record against Roma in recent meetings.
Roma seeks to close the gap on Juventus.

Mentioned in this story

Paulo DybalaWesley FrançaClaudio RanieriGian Piero Gasperini

Bologna FC 1909AS RomaJuventusAC Milan

Franca Wesley of AS Roma looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Bologna FC 1909 and AS Roma at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on March 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images It’s another good-news, bad-news situation for the Giallorossi as they face 8th-place Bologna on the road today. On the positive side of the ledger, Paulo Dybala and Wesley França have returned to the matchday squad after extended absences. Whether they start or not, having these two back in the mix gives Roma a fighting chance in their desperate attempt to catch up to 4th-place Juventus. The bad news, however, is that the club is once again embroiled in controversy after Senior Advisor and club icon Claudio Ranieri was shown the door after a public spat with manager Gian Piero Gasperini. While the dust settles on that divorce, Roma has another tricky fixture today as they face Bologna for the fourth time this season. After being knocked out of the Europa League in a tense two-leg tie against the Rossoblu, Roma may have revenge on their minds today, but this ain’t your grandpa’s Bologna. With a 3-2-1 record against Roma in their past six meetings, Bologna has dominated this series, hanging 12 goals on the Giallorossi over that span. With Juventus facing an equally difficult match against AC Milan tomorrow, Gasperini’s group has a chance to shrink that five point gap, so let’s hope they can tune out the noise and tame the Rossoblu.

Q&A

What is the significance of the Bologna vs. Roma match on March 12, 2026?

The match is crucial for AS Roma as they aim to close the gap on 4th-place Juventus while seeking revenge against Bologna after being eliminated from the Europa League.

Who are the key players returning for AS Roma in the match against Bologna?

Paulo Dybala and Wesley França are returning to the matchday squad for AS Roma after extended absences.

What recent controversy has affected AS Roma ahead of the match against Bologna?

AS Roma is dealing with controversy after Senior Advisor Claudio Ranieri was dismissed following a public disagreement with manager Gian Piero Gasperini.