Preview: Decision day in league phase | OneFootball

Eintracht need just a point from their trip to Rome to be sure of a place in the round of 16. It’s a different situation for the hosts.

Backdrop

There’s just one matchday to go and then all 36 positions in the big league phase table of the UEFA Europa League will be set in stone. With 16 points from seven games, Eintracht currently sit in second spot. In order to mathematically wrap up a place in the top eight and direct qualification for the round of 16, the Eagles need a point at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday 30 January (kick-off 21:00 CET). In the event of a defeat, all eyes will be on the other results – only three points and three goals separate second and 10th in the standings.

Meanwhile, a draw might not be enough for AS Roma. The team are in 21st place with nine points and need a win to be guaranteed to finish among the teams ranked between ninth and 24th, who will go through to the play-offs. The Giallorossi can no longer reach the top eight.

Roma have traditionally been strong at home in European competition: in their last 46 home games in Europe, they’ve lost just three times.

While the Eagles are unbeaten in the Bundesliga and Europa League so far in 2025, Claudio Ranieri’s men are also yet to lose in the domestic league since the turn of the year, registering three wins and a draw to leave them in ninth place in Serie A. They did lose 1-0 at AZ Alkmaar on Matchday 7 of the Europa League, though.

Two familiar faces in defence

In front of goalkeeper Mile Svilar, a former Frankfurt man is a pillar of the Roman defence: Evan Ndicka, a 2022 Europa League winner with the Eagles, has been residing in the Italian capital since summer 2023. Frequently alongside the 25-year-old at the back is Mats Hummels, one of Germany’s 2014 World Cup winners along with Eintracht’s Mario Götze.

Ndicka, who’s renowned for his physical strength and tackling, has won 82.1 percent of his duels in this Europa League campaign – second only to Rangers’ John Souttar (87.1%) in the competition. Ndicka’s team-mate Gianluca Mancini is behind him in third on 78.9%. The latter was benched against AZ – as Hummels was against Udinese at the weekend – with Mehmet Zeki Celik lining up in the back three instead.

Hoping to cause the Roma defence problems will be Hugo Ekitiké. After his brace in the 2-2 draw against TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday, the Frenchman quickly turned the focus towards Thursday, emphasising: “We’ll show our true selves there.”

Onwards to the last 16!