AS Roma vs Sheriff Tiraspol prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-12-13 17:45.
Roma know they need to win their final UEFA Europa League (UEL) group game if they are to have any chance of progressing directly to the last 16. JosĂ© Mourinhoâs side sit in second place and two points off top spot in Group G, but a victory against Sheriff Tiraspol, coupled with Slavia Prague dropping points in their clash against Servette, would mean the Italian outfit could avoid the play-off knockout round.
The Giallorossi should head into the tie full of confidence, given they have lost just one of their last 28 home ties in European football (W21, D6), a run dating back to December 2018. Their form at the Stadio Olimpico has been pretty good this season too, with a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina on Sunday night, when they finished with nine men, ending a superb run of seven successive victories across all competitions.
That ought to strike fear into their visitors, who were beaten 2-1 in the reverse fixture and head to the Italian capital with the UELâs joint-second worst defence, conceding 14 goals in their five group fixtures. That leaky backline has contributed to a disappointing campaign in which they have collected only one point so far (D1, L4) and means even a shock victory would not be enough to earn them a place in the Europa Conference League in the new year.
History suggests a consolation success is unlikely, as the Moldovan outfit have managed just two wins in their last 18 away matches in UEFA competitions (D6, L10). Roman Pylypchukâs side, who have played European football after Christmas in each of the last two seasons, are also trying to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to CSF BÄlÈi in their last league game in early December, a result which leaves them at risk of losing three successive fixtures inside 90 minutes for the first time since April 2013.
Key battle: Roma striker Romelu Lukaku is looking to extend his record of 16 wins from the 19 UEL games in which he has scored (D1, L2). Thatâs not good news for visiting goalkeeper Maksym Koval, who has only kept one clean sheet in his last 13 outings in this competition (W3, D3, L7).
Hot streak: Sheriffâs last five away matches have all produced 3+ goals.