Feyenoord vs AS Roma prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-02-14 17:45.
For the third time in as many seasons, Feyenoord were drawn to face Roma in European competition as the two famous outfits continue their own intriguing individual battle for supremacy. Given prior results between the pair, the Dutch side will be eager to use this UEFA Europa League (UEL) knockout play-off round meeting as revenge for their elimination in last season’s UEL quarter final clash and the 1-0 defeat they suffered during the inaugural UEFA Conference League final back in 2022.
This time around, Feyenoord were ’relegated’ to the UEL after finishing their UEFA Champions League Group in third spot (W2, L4), but they’ll be buoyed by the fact that both of their victories at least arrived on home soil. One of those victories came in the form of a 3-1 win over Roma’s fierce rivals Lazio and given that the Dutch side have started 2024 in an unbeaten manner (W5, D2), they'll hope to continue that form in this opening leg.
Roma ended the UEL group stage sat in second, mostly as a result of their poor away form (W1, D1, L1) which ultimately proved to be one of the reasons for the mid-January sacking of José Mourinho. Former midfielder Daniele De Rossi has taken over since and is set to make his European managerial debut here against a side he eliminated as a player back in 2014/15 in the UEL round of 16.
De Rossi started his managerial stint at Roma with three consecutive wins, but suffered his first defeat at the helm last weekend when falling to league-leaders Inter 4-2. That cemented his side's worst 24-game start to a Serie A season since 2012/13 in terms of points secured (38), and as they’ve won only once across their last five away outings (L4), more trouble could lie ahead in the Netherlands.
Players to watch: Santiago Gimenéz was the only Feyenoord player to score more than once in this season’s UCL group stage, with both his goals arriving in the home win against Lazio. Roma’s Romelu Lukaku has six goal involvements in six UEL matches this term (G5, A1), with his last four such goals arriving no later than the 21st minute.
Hot stat: Roma haven’t been behind on the scoresheet at half time in 15 consecutive UEL matches, including the last two H2Hs (HT: W8, D7).