FC Porto vs AS Roma prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-02-12 20:00.
[p]Porto may be suffering their poorest run of domestic form in recent memory (D3, L2), but a crucial win on matchday eight of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) against Maccabi Tel Aviv ensured their season is far from over. They’ve reached the last 16 of a European competition in each of the previous three seasons, but must get past Roma in this knockout round play-off to make it four in a row.[/p]
[p]The Portuguese giants have previous against these opponents, progressing from all three prior European knockout H2H ties (W3, D2, L1). Despite that impressive record, confidence might be depleted amongst home supporters regardless, as Porto have actually won just five of their last 25 major European knockout games against any opponent (D4, L16), but as four of those victories came at home, the first leg falling at the DragĂŁo gives them a fighting chance.[/p]
[p]Having endured a tumultuous start to the season themselves, Roma’s ship has been steadied by Claudio Ranieri, who has guided them to an eight-match unbeaten run in Serie A (W5, D3) and into this play-off as the seeded side. Translating domestic form onto the continent is the Giallorossi’s next challenge as they look to overcome a truly miserable away record in this competition.[/p]
[p]Remarkably, Roma have won just three of their last 19 UEL away games (D8, L8), with one of those victories coming against AC Milan. Only one of their last 15 wins in this competition came outside of Italian shores, while Ranieri’s own record of losing nine of his last 11 European knockout matches at any venue hardly inspires confidence here (W1, D1).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Samu was the only Porto player to score multiple goals for them in the league phase (G5), but the striker has now blanked in six successive matches and received three cards in that time (YC2, RC1). Opposite number Artem Dovbyk led the way for Roma in the league phase too (G2), and his goals usually promise entertainment as six of his last seven scoring appearances came in matches that saw both sides find the net.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: All of Ranieri’s previous three European knockout matches in charge of Roma ended in 3-2 defeats![/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]