Elfsborg vs AS Roma prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-02 19:00.
[p]For the first time since 2013/14, Elfsborg are playing in the UEFA Europa League proper at home, but they do so needing to bounce back from their matchday one 3-2 defeat at AZ Alkmaar. They couldn’t build on taking an early lead and were eventually beaten by a late penalty from AZ’s Troy Parrott. [/p]
[p]They responded well to beat Kalmar 3-1 in Sweden’s Allsvenskan on Sunday which should boost confidence ahead of just their sixth meeting with an Italian side as they welcome Roma to Borås Arena (W1, L4). Elfsborg notably beat Roma’s crosstown rivals Lazio 1-0 here in 2009/10 but their most recent and only other experience of hosting a Serie A side did not go as well when they were beaten 2-0 by Napoli in 2010/11.[/p]
[p]Winners of the 2021/22 UEFA Conference League, Roma started their Europa League campaign with a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao and then beat Venezia 2-1 in Serie A on Saturday, when star striker Paulo Dybala was an unused substitute. Results are improving after a slow start to the season but this could be new territory for younger Roma supporters as they haven’t met a Swedish side in Europe since beating Göteborg home and away in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup![/p]
[p]As the Giallorossi haven’t travelled well of late, winning only one of their last 11 Europa League games outside of Italy (D5, L5), there could be a few nerves as Ivan Jurić prepares for his first ever European away game as a manager. But with Dybala poised to return, the Italians will expect to extend an unbeaten sequence in European games as favourites since the start of last term (W6, D2).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Michael Baidoo scored three times for Elfsborg in September, twice between the 65th and 90th minutes, while Roma’s Nicolò Pisilli netted his first league goal for the club against Venezia, but has also been attracting the attention of referees by being booked in two of his last four appearances across all competitions.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Roma conceded after the 70th minute in each of their last four Europa League games (W1, D2, L1).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]