Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 7/1
Brighton and Hove Albion and AS Roma will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Europa League this week. The second leg of the Round of 16 tie between the Premier League club and the Serie A outfit will be held at the Falmer Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm UK time on Thursday.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton and Hove Albion did extremely well in the Premier League last season and are doing well at the moment. The Seagulls finished as high as sixth in the league table and could end up in a similar position this time around.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side are as high as eighth in the Premier League table at the moment with 42 points from 28 games. Brighton are only five points behind Manchester United, who are sixth. So, the Seagulls could still match their heroics of last season.
Brighton, though, are unlikely to progress further in the UEFA Europa League this season. They were hammered 4-0 by AS Roma in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie away from home at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. It is going to be extremely hard for Brighton to overhaul that lead.
Team News:
Joao Pedro, Jack Hinshelwood and Kaoru Mitoma are out and will not play for Brighton and Hove Albion against AS Roma. Billy Gilmour could return to the squad after serving a three-match domestic suspension.
AS Roma
AS Roma are one of the biggest and most historic clubs in Serie A, and they are doing well at the moment. Things have changed for the better for the Italian club ever since Jose Mourinho was let go. Roma could end up in the top four of the Serie A table this season.
Daniele De Rossi’s side are fiftj in the Serie A table at the moment with 48 points from 28 matches. Roma are only three points behind Bologna, who are currently fourth and occupy the final UEFA Champions League spot in the standings.
Roma won the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 tie 4-0 against Brighton and Hove Albion at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. It is hard to see them collapse in the second leg. They will head into the match against Brighton on the back of a 2-2 draw with Fiorentina on the road in Serie A.
Team News:
Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who is on loan at AS Roma from Chelsea, is not fully fit and will not play for AS Roma in the second leg.
Key Factors to Consider
- In the first leg, Brighton and Hove Albion became the first English club to lose a Europa League match by four goals in the knockout stage of the competition.
- In Europa League history, no side has ever overturned a four-goal deficit from the first leg of a two-legged knockout tie to progress.
- AS Roma are winless in their last seven away games in the knockout stages of major European competition.
- AS Roma have won just one of their 22 away games in England in European competition.
- Joao Pedro has scored 19 goals and given two assists in 32 matches in all competitions for Brighton and Hove Albion this season.
Conclusion
Brighton and Hove Albion have a good team, but the Seagulls are 4-0 down from the first leg. It is hard to see AS Roma collapse at the Falmer Stadium. Brighton could win the second leg of the tie, but there is no way that they are going to score four or five goals.
Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 7/1
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
