Roma vs Sporting Braga

Stadio Olimpico forms the backdrop for a high-stakes UEFA Europa League encounter between Roma and Sporting Braga.

Following a disheartening three-game winless start to his third managerial tenure at the Stadio Olimpico (D1, L2), Claudio Ranieri inspired Roma to a landslide 4-1 home victory against Serie A minnows Lecce last weekend. It’s also worth noting that Ranieri’s charges avoided defeat at Tottenham in the previous Europa League round, fighting back twice to register a 2-2 draw in London. That result forms part of a disappointing run of just one victory from the first five Europa League matchdays (D3, L1), leaving ‘I Giallorossi’ stranded four points adrift of the automatic knockout qualification spots. However, Roma can take heart from beating Dynamo Kyiv on this ground earlier this season, making it ten wins from their last 13 Europa League home games (D2, L1).

Visiting Sporting Braga will aim to leverage Roma’s misfiring attack that’s scored under 1.5 goals in four of their last six outings at the Olimpico and build on a scintillating 3-0 romping of TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 5. That victory halted Braga’s underwhelming run of three consecutive Europa League matches without winning (D1, L2), lifting them a point clear of their hosts. Now unbeaten in four games across all competitions (W3, D1), the Portuguese giants head into proceedings confident of maintaining their undefeated away record in Europe this season (W2, D2). Further inspiration comes from Braga’s ongoing five-game unbeaten streak on the road (W4, D1), suggesting they could avenge a brace of defeats from their only previous meetings with Roma in this competition in 2020/21.