AC Milan vs AS Roma prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-04-10 19:00.
[p]This all-Italian UEFA Europa League (UEL) quarter-final sees the likely Serie A runners-up, AC Milan, welcome last season’s UEL finalists Roma to San Siro for the first leg. After dropping down from the Champions League, Milan reached their first quarter-final in Europe’s second-tier competition since 2001/02 at a canter, scoring seven times across their home legs when eliminating Rennes and Slavia Prague.[/p]
[p]Next on the agenda is an opponent that the Rossoneri know very well as they meet Roma for the 198th time (W84, D62, L51), albeit for the very first time on the continental stage. However, Milan have faced fellow Italian sides on 13 previous occasions in Europe, losing just three of those games (W5, D5, L3), though it must be noted that two of those defeats came at home![/p]
[p]Roma don’t have a glamorous record against Italian clubs in Europe to match their hosts (W1, D1, L2), but they do head into this tie with confidence after winning 1-0 in the Rome derby on Saturday to maintain their Serie A top-four push. The Giallorossi have earned their right to be here from the outset after finishing second in their UEL group (W4, D1, L1) preceding their knockout triumphs against Feyenoord and Brighton & Hove Albion.[/p]
[p]Roma will probably be happy that they have a home second leg to look forward to as their European record at the Stadio Olimpico (90 mins: W4, D1) contrasts sharply with their travelling returns this season (W1, D2, L2). In fact, their win at Sheriff Tiraspol earlier this term was their only continental success on the road in their last nine such games (D4, L4), a run which will certainly heighten the nerves ahead of Thursday. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Ruben Loftus-Cheek comes to life in Europe, as four of his last five strikes have been in the UEL and three of those European goals were ultimately decisive in victory! He will be trying to outdo UEL Golden Boot hopeful Romelu Lukaku (G7), who has never drawn against Milan in his career (W7, L3) and has registered seven H2H goal contributions in those clashes (G5, A2). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Milan have avoided defeat in nine of their last 11 UEFA-sanctioned first-leg matches (W7, D2, L2). [/p]