Europa League: Roma-Brighton, probable line-ups

Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku are set to start for Roma against Brighton, but Stephan El Shaarawy could go on the bench.

It kicks off at 17:45 GMT at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. It’s the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16.

The Giallorossi are without the injured Tammy Abraham, plus Dean Huijsen and Rasmus Kristensen, who are not on Roma’s UEFA list. Rick Karsdorp is not fully fit, so Zaki Celik is expected to start on the right flank.

The main doubt for De Rossi is whether to start El Shaarawy or ex-Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling.

The English defender seems favourite as he would allow De Rossi to use a 3-5-2 formation, or 3-4-2-1, the same as De Zerbi’s Brighton. However, if El Shaarawy starts, then Roma will go on the pitch with a 4-3-1-2 system.

Dybala and Lukaku will surely start in attack and the same is true of Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante and Leandro Paredes in central midfield.

Roma-Brighton: probable line-ups

Roma (3-5-2): Svilar; Mancini, Smalling, Ndicka; Celik, Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini, Spinazzola; Dybala, Lukaku.

Brighton (3-4-2-1): Verbruggen; Van Heeke, Dunk, Igor; Lamptey, Gilmour, Gross, Estupinan; Buonanotte, Lallana; Welbeck.