Jose Mourinho has conceded it is difficult to find Real Sociedad's weaknesses as Roma prepare for the first leg of their last-16 tie in the "super quality" Europa League.
Roma coach Mourinho has won the Europa League twice with Porto and Manchester United and guided the Giallorossi to the Conference League title last season.
The Serie A side are enjoying another good season, sitting fourth in the league and advancing past Salzburg in the previous round in Europe.
Now, Roma face La Real for the first time in UEFA competition, with the first leg taking place at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
Ahead of the match, Mourinho said of Roma's opponents: "They are an excellent team, and it is difficult to find their weaknesses. They have a very good coach, and the team is doing very well.
"They are organised both defensively and offensively, with technically very good players.
"They are fourth [in LaLiga] behind the three giants who are always there; it's really a quality team, and it can't be said that we were lucky in the draw."
Roma and La Real are joined in the last 16 by United, Arsenal and Juventus among others.
Mourinho added: "This year the Europa League is super quality, a difficult match, but they look at us with the same respect as we look at them."
The LaLiga side boast some quality players in their ranks, including David Silva, sought-after midfielder Martin Zubimendi and talented winger Mikel Oyarzabal.
Asked about Oyarzabal, Mourinho was keen to focus more on the collective.
"He's very good, but Real Sociedad is much more than him," Mourinho said. "Even from an individual point of view, they also have other players of the highest level.
"But the most important thing is how they play as a team, they are very organised."
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life after Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life without Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
Abraham handed Serie A lifeline with Milan loan move
Tammy Abraham has secured a move to Milan, signing a season-long loan deal from Roma for the Serie A season.
Abraham suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear at the end of the 2022-23 campaign that restricted him to just 12 appearances in all competitions last year.
The 26-year-old netted 27 times in 53 outings in his debut season with Roma, helping the side led by Jose Mourinho to Europa Conference League glory.
But the injury has seen him fail to regain his starting spot under Daniele de Rossi, with Roma signing LaLiga's leading marksman from last season, Artem Dovbyk.
Abraham's arrival at the San Siro marks another attacking option, having already welcomed Alvaro Morata from Atletico Madrid earlier in the window.
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