Prediction: Roma vs Braga

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Turning their attention back to Europa League action on Thursday evening, Roma will welcome Braga to the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma

Starting with the hosts, claiming what was an essential boost last weekend as they clinched a 4-1 victory against Leece, Roma must find a way to use that performance as a platform to build on. However, making the decision to turn back to Claudio Ranieri last month in an attempt to steady the ship, the Wolves have continued to show a string of glaring issues this season. Remarkably scrapping it out in the bottom-half of the Serie A standings, the former Leicester boss appears to have a real job on his hands at the Stadio Olimpico. Opening December with a routine 2-0 loss at the hands of Atalanta, Thursday’s hosts have won just a pair of their previous nine appearances across all competitions. Despite snatching a thrilling 2-2 stalemate away at Tottenham on November 28th, Roma have shown some glaring defensive struggles. In fact, Ranieri’s camp have failed to put a single clean sheet on the board since the end of October.

Roma Team News

Missing out against Lecce over the weekend and dealing with a recent ankle issue, Roma will once again be without Bryan Cristante. However, aside from the Italian midfielder, Ranieri’s side have reported a clean bill of health ahead of Thursday’s showdown at the Stadio Olimpico.

While summer recruit and former Girona striker Artem Dovbyk might have missed out in Serie A action on Saturday night, Roma expected the Ukrainian marksmen to feature here. Although Paulo Dybala might have recorded just a single strike since the middle of September, the 31-year-old will be hoping to keep his spot from the start.

Braga

As for the visitors, suffering a dramatic late collapse at home against Estoril over the weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 2-2 stalemate, Braga must dust themselves down quickly. Nevertheless, despite heading into November’s international break with an action-packed 4-2 defeat against domestic rivals Sporting Lisbon, Carlos Carvahal’s men have largely impressed over the past few weeks. Last seen in Europa League action putting in a dominant display as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp against German outfit Hoffenheim, the one-time Sheffield Wednesday boss will be desperately seeking a repeat performance here. It should also be noted, Braga have continued to shine with their success on the road. In fact, Thursday’s guests are unbeaten in all of their last five showdowns on their travels.

Braga Team News

Yet to feature since returning from November’s fortnight interval, Paulo Oliveira is still dealing with a muscle injury and will not feature on Thursday night. However, returning from a knock last weekend and making a cameo appearance off the bench, former Schalke midfielder Rodrigo Martinez will be hoping to get some more minuets.

Bagging a brace against Estoril on Saturday and now recording six goals in his previous eight appearances across all competitions, ex-PSV star Bruma will play a leading role here. Despite turning 38 back in September, former Wolves star Yao Moutinho will start in the middle of the park.

Roma vs Braga Key Factors to Consider

• When Roma and Braga met in Europa League action back in February 2021, the Wolves collected a 5-1 aggregate victory.
• However, Roma have won just a pair of their previous nine appearances across all competitions.
• Thursday’s hosts have failed to record a single clean sheet across any competition since the end of October.
• Braga are unbeaten in each of their last five showdowns on the road (four wins, one draw).
• Four of Braga’s last six away fixtures have finished with both teams finding the net.

Conclusion

Claiming what was an essential boost last weekend as they secured a 4-1 victory against Leece, Roma must use that performance as a platform to build on. Drastically struggling to find any kind of fluidity and mustering just a pair of wins from any of their previous nine appearances across all competitions, Thursday’s hosts have also continued to show some glaring defensive struggles. Failing to put a single clean sheet on the board since the end of October, Braga could be smelling the chance to spring a major upset at the Stadio Olimpico. With the Portuguese outfit seeing four of their previous six away fixtures finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome in midweek.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet