Roma, under the management of Claudio Ranieri, has set itself the main goal of winning the Europa League title this season. The 73-year-old coach has made significant changes to the team's game and revived some players. In particular, Eldor Shomurodov is becoming one of the most important figures in the Romans today.
Roma's unbeaten streak and Shomurodov's rise
In 2025, the "wolves" have not yet suffered a single defeat - the team has not lost in 12 consecutive matches. Claudio Ranieri has made significant changes to the team's structure and has given a chance to several players who were not trusted by previous coaches. Eldor Shomurodov has also been able to solidify his place in the starting lineup, alongside Zeki Celik, Matias Sule, Mats Hummels and Leandro Paredes.
The Uzbek striker is enjoying his best season so far this season. Since joining Roma in 2021, his game has been inconsistent for various reasons, but under Claudio Ranieri he has had the opportunity to show himself again.
Shomurodov and Dovbik: the fight for the starting lineup
Sources specializing in Italian football are discussing who will be selected for the center forward position ahead of the match against Athletic. Ilromanista.eu has prepared a special analysis on this issue, paying special attention to the rivalry between Shomurodov and Artyom Dovbik:
“If someone had told us in the summer that there would be a serious fight for the starting lineup between Eldor Shomurodov and Artyom Dovbik before the most important match of Roma, many would not have believed it. However, today this is precisely the issue that has become a headache for Claudio Ranieri.”
Shomurodov's statistics and influence on the team
Shomurodov has played 26 games this season, playing 878 minutes on the field. During this time, he has scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists. Of his effective efforts, three goals and two assists fall on 2025. According to statistics, Eldor spends 176 minutes for each goal.
Dovbik has played 36 games this season, scoring 14 goals and providing 4 assists. His average goal-scoring rate is 182 minutes. Judging by the raw numbers, the Ukrainian striker seems to be more effective. However, Eldor is clearly more effective in terms of impact on the field.
Shomurodov is superior to Dovbik in terms of his ability to move freely around the field, return to defense, put pressure on opponents and have a beneficial effect on the team's play. Even Dovbik himself admitted this.
Who will start against Athletic?
Now all attention is focused on the Athletic - Roma match in the Europa League. In the first leg, the Romans won 2-1, and Eldor Shomurodov scored the decisive goal in that match. In the return match, Athletic will definitely be ahead and they will be forced to attack as a team.
In these circumstances, if Eldor Shomurodov comes on the field from the first minutes, Roma can focus more on counterattacks. Considering that Athletic leaves empty spaces in the defensive line, Shomurodov's speed and mobility across the field can be a great help to the team.
If the coaching staff chooses Dovbik, he will try to put more pressure on the central defenders. However, Valverde is seriously afraid of Shomurodov and plans to play Paredes and Una Nunes instead of Yeray and Vivian in the center of defense. This is clearly a tactical move against Shomurodov.
Raneri's choice is a decisive decision
This will be a very important decision for Claudio Ranieri. He will have to choose between Shomurodov and Dovbik. However, experts say that Shomurodov can become Roma's main weapon in this match.
"If Eldor comes on the field, it will distract Athletic. Because they are forced to rush forward, and in such a situation, gaps appear in the opponent's defense. Shomurodov can take advantage of these opportunities," writes ilromanista.eu.
In any case, a tense clash is expected on March 13 at San Mames. Roma aims to continue their unbeaten streak and reach the semi-finals of the Europa League. Eldor Shomurodov is one of the main candidates who can bring his team another victory.
The match will start on March 13 at 22:45 Tashkent time. A decisive night for the Wolves! Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”
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