AS Roma vs Slavia Prague prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-10-25 19:00.
Roma manager Jose Mourinho earned himself another red card at the weekend for making ‘cry-baby’ gestures at the Monza bench as his side made it four competitive wins in a row with a 1-0 victory, keeping them within striking distance of Serie A’s top six. They’re two from two in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) and another win here will see them move to the top of Group G at the halfway stage.
This is Roma’s first meeting with Slavia Prague since March 1996 (W1, L1) and Mourinho’s first experience against them, with Roma’s home win in ‘96 forming part of a perfect home record against Czech clubs in Europe (W3). The Wolves scored at least three times in each of those fixtures, as they’ve also done in two of their last four home matches in all competitions (W4) including a 4-0 win over Servette on matchday two.
Slavia top the group courtesy of beating Servette 2-0 and Sheriff Tiraspol 6-0, while they have also kept clean sheets in four of their last five matches (W4, D1), suggesting they’ll be no pushovers in the Italian capital. They’ve already broken new ground this term as those two UEL victories mark the first time they’ve ever won two group-stage games in a major European competition!
Now they put on hold their battle with great rivals Sparta at the top of the Czech top-flight as they bid to improve on a poor record against Italian sides (W3, D3, L8). They haven’t enjoyed travelling here either, as they’re yet to win a European away game in Italy (D1, L6) and victory in Switzerland against Servette was their first UEL away win since March 2021 (D2, L2 – includes qualifiers).
Players to watch: Roma’s Romelu Lukaku netted in both of their UEL fixtures this term while three of his last four club goals arrived in the 20th or 21st minute. Similarly threatening early on, Slavia’s Matěj Jurásek opened the scoring in two of their last five fixtures.
Hot streak: Roma scored first in each of their last five UEL home matches (W5).