Roma, last season’s Europa League finalists, are gearing up to face Servette in a thrilling encounter on matchday two of the competition.
Jose Mourinho’s side secured a narrow victory against Sheriff Tiraspol on the opening matchday, while Servette faced defeat in their group stage debut against Slavia Prague.
Match Preview
Despite their dominance in minor UEFA competitions over the past two seasons, Roma barely scraped past Sheriff in Transnistria just two weeks ago.
This hard-fought win was one of the few highlights in a dismal start to the season for Mourinho’s Roma.
Roma has earned the tag of ‘flat-track bullies’ due to their league wins only coming against the struggling Empoli and newly-promoted Frosinone this season.
Their emphatic victory against Empoli puts them 13th in the league, with only Inter Milan and Napoli scoring more goals.
However, a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Genoa last midweek exemplified their sluggish start.
The Europa League offers Roma a chance to temporarily shift their focus from domestic struggles.
Romelu Lukaku, with his brilliant individual goal against Sheriff, played a crucial role in securing the win for Roma.
This goal extended Lukaku’s remarkable streak of scoring in 12 consecutive Europa League matches. Lukaku’s strike in Tiraspol was also his first in European competition while playing for Roma.
Rene Weiler’s Servette will face the daunting task of containing the prolific Lukaku. Servette, making their European group stage debut, heads to Italy with a less than impressive start to the season.
Apart from two cup victories against lower-league teams, Servette has won just two of their other 14 matches.
Their defeat to Slavia on matchday one didn’t help their cause, and their European away form offers little solace, with only one win in their last six continental trips.
Nonetheless, Weiler is hopeful that Servette’s recent win against Lausanne, ending an eight-game winless streak, can turn their fortunes around.
Roma Europa League form: W
Roma form (all competitions): L, W, W, D, L, W
Servette Europa League form: L
Servette form (all competitions): L, L, L, L, D, W
Team News
Mourinho rotated his squad against Sheriff, and despite Lukaku’s heroics, Roma may field a similar lineup. Renato Sanches, who started in Moldova, is sidelined due to injury.
Roma will be without several defensive options, with Chris Smalling, Diego Llorente, and Marash Kumbulla all unavailable. This may push Bryan Cristante into the defense once again.
Tammy Abraham, who tore his ACL in pre-season, will also be missing for Roma.
Servette has only two players sidelined with injuries, Alexander Lyng and Theo Magnin.
Key player Miroslav Stevanovic enters the game in fine form, having scored in his last two matches.
Swiss-born Cypriot international Joel Mall regained his place in the side for the win against Lausanne.
Possible Starting Lineups
Roma:
Svilar;
Ndicka, Cristante, Mancini;
Kristensen, Pellegrini, Aouar, Spinazzola;
El Shaaraway, Lukaku, Zalewski
Servette:
Mall;
Tsunemoto, Rouiller, Onguene, Mazikou;
Stevanovic, Cognat, Antunes, Douline;
Guillemenot, Bedia
Prediction:
While Roma has underperformed in domestic competitions, their European campaigns have often provided respite.
Servette’s struggles make it challenging for them to catch up, and another defeat here will further diminish their chances of progressing in the Europa League.
- Our prediction: Roma 3-1 Servette