Tottenham vs AS Roma Preview
- Draw or Tottenham win
- Both teams to score
Claudio Ranieri’s Roma travel to England for their first competitive head-to-head clash with Tottenham Hotspur, a highly anticipated encounter in the UEFA Europa League league phase.
Both teams have displayed inconsistent form this season, making this a fascinating and unpredictable fixture.
Tottenham Hotspur: Searching for Consistency
Tottenham’s Europa League campaign had been living up to expectations as one of the pre-season title favorites until a 3-2 loss at Galatasaray on matchday four disrupted their momentum.
That setback followed a string of unpredictable performances, including a stunning 4-0 victory over Manchester City, contrasting sharply with losses to struggling Premier League sides Ipswich and Crystal Palace.
Spurs’ home form remains a strong point, and they’ll need it against a Roma side desperate to stay alive in the competition.
Without starting goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Spurs will rely heavily on their outfield stars to deliver. Dominic Solanke, who provided an assist for Pedro Porro’s goal against Manchester City, is a player to watch, particularly as he often strings together productive performances.
Tottenham’s UEL history against Italian clubs is modest (W2, D4, L2), and they’ll aim to improve that record by exploiting Roma’s poor away form in Europe.
AS Roma: Fighting for Survival
Claudio Ranieri’s Roma arrive as the 2022/23 Europa League runners-up but have struggled in the league phase this season, winning just one of their first four matches (D2, L1). However, they’ve proven resilient in similar situations, winning their final two group-stage games last season to progress to the knockout rounds.
Roma’s away record in the Europa League is a glaring weakness. The Italian giants have managed just one win in their last 12 UEL away games outside of Italy (D6, L5), and even that came against the winless Sheriff Tiraspol.
To take points off Tottenham, they’ll need a phenomenal effort, particularly given Spurs’ strong home form.
Stephan El Shaarawy will be key to Roma’s hopes. The forward has a proven track record against Tottenham, having scored for Monaco in both UEL group-stage meetings during the 2015/16 season.
Fresh off a Serie A brace, El Shaarawy will be motivated to add to his tally of seven UEL goals.
Key Battles
Dominic Solanke vs. Roma’s Defense
Solanke has been a crucial creative force for Spurs, linking midfield and attack with his intelligent movement and vision. Roma’s backline, led by Chris Smalling, must be alert to Solanke’s ability to create and convert chances.
Stephan El Shaarawy vs. Tottenham’s Full-Backs
El Shaarawy’s versatility and knack for finding space in the final third make him a significant threat. Tottenham’s full-backs, particularly Pedro Porro, will need to balance their attacking duties with defensive responsibilities to contain the Italian forward.
Tactical Analysis
Tottenham are likely to play an attacking game, utilizing their wide players and high pressing to force errors from Roma’s defense. With the home crowd behind them, Spurs will look to control possession and create chances through quick transitions.
Roma, on the other hand, may adopt a more conservative approach, aiming to frustrate Tottenham and capitalize on set pieces or counterattacks. Ranieri’s tactical experience will be critical in orchestrating a disciplined and organized performance.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 AS Roma
While Roma have the quality to compete, their poor away form in Europe and Tottenham’s strength at home make this a challenging task for the Italian side.
Expect a closely contested game with Spurs edging it thanks to their attacking depth and ability to capitalize on Roma’s defensive lapses.
Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro could play pivotal roles for Tottenham, while Stephan El Shaarawy’s creativity might offer Roma a lifeline. Ultimately, Tottenham should have enough to secure a crucial victory and maintain their push for Europa League glory.
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Tottenham vs Roma | UEFA Europa League 2024/25