Ranieri explains unexpected Roma choices against Porto

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Susy Campanale | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 2:18 PM ET

Claudio Ranieri explains why he made some surprising Roma choices for the Europa League play-off against FC Porto, revealing Mats Hummels is having ‘specific training’ to rediscover his form.

It kicks off at the Estadio do Dragao at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The Giallorossi were forced into the play-offs after finishing 15^th in the league phase, but were seeded and therefore play the first leg away from home.

The return will be at the Stadio Olimpico next Thursday evening and the away goals rule has been scrapped now for several years.

Before emerging for the warm-up, there was a hug in the tunnel with Andoni Zubizarreta, who works at FC Porto.

“Zubizarreta was my player, I was his last coach, as he already wanted to start the next phase of his career and has become an excellent director,” Ranieri told Sky Sport Italia.

“The team is in good shape, we know that we are up against a great opponent that plays vertical football through the central channels and has a fiery atmosphere behind it. Do not forget they managed to hold Manchester City to a 3-3 draw earlier this season.

“Porto never give in, we know that, and we came here to play our game, try to score goals and impose our style of football on the match. If they do it better, then we tip our hats to them, but that is the plan.”

Ranieri pulled some Roma surprises

When Ranieri rested Hummels and Leandro Paredes for the Serie A trip to Venezia, it was assumed that they would start tonight, but both are instead on the bench while Lorenzo Pellegrini, Zeki Celik and Bryan Cristante play in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

“It’s because Porto have a very physical centre-forward and Hummels is not quite back at full fitness. By playing so often, he has used up a lot of energy and lost a bit of edge, so we need to recover him fully with specific training,” explained the coach.

“Paredes is not playing because we are back on the field on Sunday and Cristante is suspended there, so it seemed logical for me to make this choice.”

Devyne Rensch is suffering from a muscular injury, while Lucas Gourna-Douath and Anass Salah-Eddine are not registered on the UEFA list.

If Roma do go through, they will face either Lazio or Athletic Club Bilbao in the Round of 16, so there could be a spectacular European Derby della Capitale.

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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