MADRID, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Athletic Bilbao return to European competitions for the first time in six years when they travel to Roma in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.
The side from the Basque region of northern Spain have the extra incentive of knowing that the final of this season's competition will be played in their San Mames Stadium.
Last season saw Athletic finish fifth in La Liga, after already assuring their place in Europe by winning the Copa del Rey for the first time in 40 years.
Coach Ernesto Valverde has been able to name Spain international Nico Williams in his squad for the game, after the younger of the Williams brothers missed Sunday's 3-1 win at home to Celta Vigo due to a knock on his ankle suffered in Leganes three days earlier.
Goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala also makes it onto the plane after having to be substituted at halftime at the weekend as a precautionary measure following a collision with Celta striker Iago Aspas, but influential midfielder Oihan Sancet misses out with a muscle strain picked up in the same game.
Sancet has been in excellent form early in the season and his absence is a big loss for Athletic.
Athletic travel to Rome with their morale sky-high after a brilliant week saw them win away to Las Palmas and Leganes before Sunday's victory over Celta, with the nine points they have taken lifting them to third in La Liga.
Opta Stats make Athletic their second favorite to win the Europa League behind Porto, but it will be a tough opening game playing against Roma in the Olympic Stadium, even if the Italian club are in turmoil with former Tonino boss Ivan Juric recently replacing Daniele De Rossi as first team coach after the latter had taken just three points from the first four games of the season.
The Roma attack should be led by Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk, who ended last season as top scorer in La Liga while playing for Girona. ■
