Europa League Matchday 1: Roma Aim to Extend New Coach Bounce into Europe, Lyon Struggle with Slow Start

The Europa League's first round continues in the early hours of September 27th (Beijing time), with some intriguing matchups that promise to offer plenty of drama. Among these, Roma’s clash against Athletic Bilbao stands out as the only encounter between clubs from Europe’s top five leagues. Meanwhile, Lyon, a club in desperate need of a turnaround, will take on Greek champions Olympiacos, with both teams looking to make a statement on the continental stage.

Roma, under new head coach Ivan Jurić, is hoping that their impressive domestic win over Udinese will carry over into their European campaign, while Athletic Bilbao, riding high in La Liga, look to disrupt the Roman resurgence. Lyon, despite improving on last season's abysmal start, remains frustratingly inconsistent and will need to raise their level significantly if they hope to challenge a well-organized Olympiacos side. Both matches carry significant weight, as these clubs look to build momentum early in the group stage.

Roma vs Athletic Bilbao: The Williams Brothers Duel and Roma's Defensive Revival

Roma’s season has been tumultuous so far, marked by a disappointing start and significant managerial upheaval. The Roman club only secured their first win of the Serie A campaign last weekend, a 3-0 triumph over Udinese, which was also new coach Ivan Jurić's debut match in charge. This change in leadership came after club legend Daniele De Rossi was sacked following a poor run of results. In his place, Roma have brought in Jurić, a seasoned Croatian manager who had spent the previous three seasons stabilizing Torino in Serie A, transforming the relegation-battling side into a comfortable mid-table team.

Jurić’s hallmark has always been his defensive acumen. During his three years with Torino, his team’s defense never conceded more than an average of 1.2 goals per game, and last season, they were even better, allowing fewer than one goal per match. He instilled a disciplined, pragmatic approach that turned Torino into one of the most frustrating teams for attackers to break down. Jurić’s defensive philosophy has already begun to take shape at Roma, as evidenced by their shutout of Udinese, one of Serie A’s most dynamic attacking teams this season.

For Roma, the Europa League represents a chance to build on that solid performance, but Athletic Bilbao poses a much sterner test than Udinese. The Basque side has started the La Liga campaign on fire, winning three consecutive matches and currently sitting third behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. Athletic’s only defeats this season have come against Atlético Madrid and Barcelona, both of whom remain unbeaten, so fans of the club are not too discouraged by these losses.

Leading Bilbao’s charge this season is the electric Inaki Williams, who has been in sensational form. The elder Williams brother has notched a goal or assist in each of Athletic’s last three matches, including an assist hat-trick in one standout performance. His contributions have been key to their recent run of form, making him the man Roma will need to watch closely. Notably, it’s not his younger brother Nico Williams – a key part of Spain’s Euro-winning squad – who has been the primary attacking threat, but rather Inaki, who has outshone his sibling so far this season. Nico, unfortunately, has not made the trip to Italy due to injury, weakening Bilbao’s attack for this pivotal European fixture.

Without Nico, Athletic Bilbao’s attacking options are reduced, but their defense remains sturdy, and this is where the real test for Roma will come. Jurić’s favored three-at-the-back formation worked wonders against Udinese, stifling their attacks and cutting off supply lines to the forwards. However, Athletic’s relentless pressing and pacey forwards will put this new defensive system under serious pressure. If Roma’s defense can maintain their composure, the Italian side will have a strong chance to come away with a result. In contrast, if Bilbao can unlock Roma’s backline early, the floodgates may open.

Roma’s attack, which has struggled at times this season, will need to show up in force. The reliance on Paulo Dybala for creativity is evident, but other players will need to step up if they hope to consistently challenge top European teams like Athletic. If they can harness the “new manager bounce” that often comes with a fresh appointment, they could find themselves on the front foot and make the most of Athletic's absence of key players like Nico Williams.

Lyon vs Olympiacos: The Europa Conference League Champions Test Their Mettle in Europa

Lyon, on the other hand, are in a very different position. After a historically poor start to the 2022-23 Ligue 1 campaign, which saw them go winless in their first 12 matches, the French giants managed to claw their way back to a respectable sixth-place finish. While this season hasn’t been as catastrophic, it’s still far from what Lyon’s fans and management expect from a club with such a storied history. They’ve managed just four points from their first five league matches, and their most recent outing, a 2-1 loss to Marseille, was a frustrating affair where Lyon failed to capitalize on an early red card to their opponents. Despite leading the game 1-0, Lyon squandered the advantage, missing a penalty and eventually being overrun by Marseille.

The Europa League could offer some respite from their domestic struggles, but Lyon will need to be much sharper if they want to make any headway in Europe. Olympiacos, their opponent, is a different type of challenge. The Greek side comes into the Europa League after winning the UEFA Europa Conference League last season, and while that competition is seen as a lower-tier tournament designed for clubs from smaller leagues, Olympiacos’ victory shows that they are not to be underestimated.

They’ve started their domestic campaign strong with three straight wins, but recent form has dipped, as they’ve failed to win in their last two matches. Nonetheless, Olympiacos remains a formidable force in Greek football and will see the Europa League as an opportunity to prove themselves on a bigger stage. The last time a team outside of the top five European leagues won the Europa League was in 2011 when Porto triumphed, showing just how rare it is for teams from smaller leagues to lift the trophy.

For Lyon, the key to victory will be breaking out of their slow-starting tendencies. Last season, their first win didn’t come until the 12th round of Ligue 1, and although this season has seen them avoid that level of disaster, they remain frustratingly inconsistent. Alexandre Lacazette, their talismanic forward, will need to find his scoring boots after missing a crucial penalty in the defeat to Marseille. If Lyon can click offensively, they should have enough quality to overpower Olympiacos, but they can’t afford to be complacent.

On paper, Lyon should be the stronger team. However, Olympiacos have proven to be excellent in knockout competitions and will relish the opportunity to take on a club from one of Europe’s major leagues. Lyon’s defense has been shaky at best this season, and their inability to hold onto leads will be a major concern heading into this fixture. Olympiacos, while not the attacking juggernaut they once were, are disciplined and capable of exploiting any defensive lapses.

Conclusion: Key Factors in Both Matchups

The first round of the Europa League is always filled with intrigue, as clubs from across Europe’s top leagues test their mettle against unfamiliar opponents. For Roma, it’s a chance to build on their new coach’s successful start and translate that momentum into European success. Athletic Bilbao, though, will be no pushovers and will look to disrupt Jurić’s plans with their high-energy pressing and in-form players like Inaki Williams. The absence of Nico Williams might give Roma a slight edge, but only if their defense can withstand the inevitable pressure.

Lyon, meanwhile, have no such momentum, and their sluggish start to the Ligue 1 campaign leaves many wondering whether they can rise to the occasion in Europe. Olympiacos, buoyed by their Conference League victory, are ready to prove they belong at this level, and Lyon will need to be at their best to avoid a potential upset. For Lyon, a fast start is critical; if they continue their trend of slow beginnings, Olympiacos could easily take advantage.

Both Roma and Lyon will be under the microscope as they enter this first round of Europa League action, and the outcomes of these matches could set the tone for their entire European campaigns.