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Vitesse have won four of their six European home matches this season, losing just once. Roma have won all three two-legged knockout ties against Dutch opponents, including beating Ajax 11 months ago.
Both teams to score is 8/13.
Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score is 1/1.
Tammy Abraham has scored 20 goals this season for Roma, including six in Europe. He is 9/2 to break the deadlock and 13/10 to add to this tally.
Match preview
Empoli FC v AS Roma – Serie A EMPOLI, ITALY – JANUARY 23: Nicoló Zaniolo of AS Roma celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and AS Roma at Stadio Carlo Castellani on January 23, 2022 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
AS Roma are certainly taking the Europa Conference League seriously so will they stay on track to reach May’s final in Tirana?
I Giallorossi began in the play-off round, hammering Trabzonspor, before topping Group C above Bodø/Glimt, Zorya Luhansk and CSKA Sofia.
More broadly, Roma’s last silverware of any kind remains the 2008 Coppa Italia, something they’re desperate to change.
Given that they’re out of the Coppa Italia, and sixth in Serie A, six points adrift of fourth, this competition may have to save their season.
Only one manager, Giovanni Trapattoni, has won the first, second and third-tier European competitions, something José Mourinho is aiming to achieve this year.
Will the Italian giants claim a first leg victory in the Netherlands?
Vitesse though are loving life in this brand-new European competition, having reached the round of 16 for the first time in 29 years.
They’ve never previously gone past this juncture in Europe, losing to Sporting CP in 1991 and Real Madrid, also in the UEFA Cup, two years later.
Thomas Letsch’s side started in the third qualifying round, edging past Dundalk and then Anderlecht.
Then, Vitesse finished second in Group G, eliminating Tottenham Hotspur, thanks largely to a 1-0 victory over Spurs in Arnhem.
After that, in the first knockout round, despite losing 2-1 to Rapid Vienna in Austria, they turned the tie around with a 2-0 home victory.
Adrian Grbić and Matúš Bero with the goals that extend their stay in Europe, for another couple of games at least.
In the Eredivisie, Vitesse are down in sixth, so face a real fight to get back into UEFA competition next season.
But, for now, can the home side claim a first leg advantage at GelreDome?
Vitesse team news
RSC Anderlecht v Vitesse – UEFA Europa Conference League Play-off Leg One BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – AUGUST 19: Nikolai Baden Frederiksen celebrates with Riechedly Bazoer after scoring during the UEFA Europa Conference League Play-off match between RSC Anderlecht and Vitesse at Lotto Park on August 19, 2021 in Brussels, Belgium (Photo by Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
The hosts are not missing anyone through suspension, but six players would miss out on a trip to Rome if booked here.
They are: Riechedly Bazoer, Danilho Doekhi, Alois Oroz, Maximilian Wittek, Sondre Tronstad and Thomas Buitink.
Wittek has scored four times in Europe so far this season, including the brace that saw off Anderlecht and the winner when Spurs were in town.
He’ll start wide left with Eli Dasa providing the width on the other flank in this 3-5-2.
Loïs Openda is also worth keeping an eye on; he’s scored 16 goals already in this campaign.
Roma team news
AS Roma v Borussia Moenchengladbach: Group J – UEFA Europa League Chris Smalling during the Europe League football match AS Roma vs Borussia Monchengladbach at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, on october 24, 2019. (Photo by Silvia Lore/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Roma have really struggled for consistency this season but, after an impressive victory over Atalanta on Saturday, José Mourinho doesn’t need to tinker.
Marash Kumbulla and Gianluca Mancini are one yellow card away from suspension but are likely to start in defence, alongside Chris Smalling.
Leonardo Spinazzola hasn’t featured since rupturing his achilles tendon at Euro 2020, playing for Italy against Belgium in the quarter-finals.
So, January signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles could start as a wing-back; all nine of his appearance for the club have come in that role on one side or another.
Up front, star man Nicolò Zaniolo, who’s fit again, could partner top-scorer Tammy Abraham; the best front two of any side in this competition?
Eldor Shomurodov, Carles Pérez, Stephan El Shaarawy and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are other attacking options.
Eredivisie table:
Serie A table:
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