Roma-Sheriff Tiraspol is a match from the sixth day of the Europa League group stage and is played Thursday at 6:45 p.m.: TV, lineups, predictions.
Roma has relapsed. And for the second year in a row, it risks having to play as many as two extra games to advance to the Europa League round of 16.
If at the halfway mark none of Slavia Prague, Servette and Sheriff Tiraspol seemed to be able to threaten the Giallorossi’s lead, since the heavy defeat in the Czech Republic in the return match things have changed. Two weeks ago, the surprising draw with the Swiss side Servette (1-1) in Geneva further complicated the path of Jose Mourinho’s team, overtaken by Slavia Prague – the Czechs came out on top at the last gasp against Sheriff – and no longer masters of their own destiny on the final day of the group stage. Roma are certain to play in the knockout phase but to advance as first they must compulsorily beat the Transnistrian club and hope for an unlikely home defeat by Slavia against Servette. In the standings, in fact, Trpisovsky’s men have two more points: should they both finish on 13 (Roma win, Slavia draw) the goal difference will count, since the direct matches are perfectly tied. And even here Roma is worse off.
First place needs a miracle
In the sense that it will be necessary to win by a landslide – at least five goals to spare – to overtake the Biancorossi. No small feat, in short.
(Sheriff players TheVeggente.it (Ansa)
The feeling, then, is that the omelet is already made. But Roma cannot afford to make any calculations, its goal must be to win and convince – with as many goals to spare as possible – against a team that in five days has been able to bring home barely a point, cashing in as many as 14 goals. The Giallorossi will have to be more incisive than last Sunday’s match with Fiorentina (1-1), which was even closed in nine men due to the expulsions of Lukaku and Zalewski. Complicated period, on the other hand, for Sheriff Tiraspol, which in the last league round surrendered 3-1 to Balti, another setback after the 2-3 defeat against Slavia Prague in the Europa League. Mourinho will be without N’Dicka, who is disqualified, as well as the injured Dybala (the Argentine will return in 2024). In the middle Renato Sanches asks for space, in front with Lukaku it will finally be El Shaarawy’s turn.
The prediction
Roma should manage to get a wide victory against what proved to be the worst team in the round, disastrous especially in the non-possession phase of the ball. As in the first leg, the total goals could be at least three.
The probable lineups of Roma-Sheriff Tiraspol
ROMA (3-5-2): Svilar; Celik, Cristante, Llorente; Karsdorp, Renato Sanches, Paredes, Aouar, Zalewski; El Shaarawy, Lukaku.
SHERIFF TIRASPOL (4-4-2): Koval; Apostolakis, Tovar, Artunduaga, Bueno; Ngom Mbekeli, Talal, Badolo, Joao Paulo; Ankeye, Ricardinho.
