Roma-HJK is a match valid for the second day of the Europa League group stage and is played on Thursday at 21:00.
The opponent in question is “only” HJK, but the sold-out crowd at the Olimpico for José Mourinho’s men’s first European fixture in front of their own home crowd has a clear meaning: there is still a lot of enthusiasm around Roma. A fervour that has been going on for months and that the two defeats suffered in the past week against Udinese and Ludogorets Razgrad have not in the slightest scratched. The Giallorossi, after their Conference League triumph last season, want to continue to impress on the international stage despite the false start in Bulgaria. Pellegrini and his team-mates may have felt the effects of the 4-0 thrashing in Friuli a few days earlier, underestimating Simundza’s men too much and suffering an unexpected slip-up that could complicate the qualification race.
Not very concrete in front of goal despite the numerous chances they created, the Capitolini ended up conceding the final 2-1 goal two minutes from 90 minutes after having found the equalizer only seconds before through Eldor Shomurodov. Roma, however, managed to turn the page by immediately returning to winning ways in the league with a 2-1 victory over Empoli in the post-match match. Three points that allowed Mou and his team to remain just one point behind the three teams at the top: AC Milan, Napoli and Atalanta.
The Finns, on the other hand, are flying at home: after twenty-two matches they are first, two points ahead of KuPS, and in the last three rounds they have had as many victories. In Europe, however, it is a different kettle of fish, and the difference in quality was all apparent in the opener against the Spaniards from Betis, who went down 2-0 in Finland. It is precisely the Andalusians that Roma must watch, waiting for the double challenge that will probably decide the first place in Group C. In the meantime, the Portuguese coach will recover Zaniolo, who should start from the ‘1’ against Toni Koskela’s Finns. On the flanks there will be space for Celik and Spinazzola, while at the back Mourinho is thinking of giving Vina a chance. Belotti is back in attack.
Abubakari and Henrique
The Prediction
Roma’s victory against the least competitive team on paper in the round does not seem to be in question, but as we saw in the last round, every game in Europe can have its pitfalls. The Giallorossi favourites in a match in which they should once again keep their goals unbeaten after three games.
Roma v HJK line-up in the match
- ROMA (3-4-2-1): Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Vina; Celik, Camara, Matic, Spinazzola; Zaniolo, Pellegrini; Belotti.
- HJK (3-4-3): Hazard; Hoskonen, Tenho, Raitala; Terho, Lingman, Vaananen, Browne; Soiri, Abubakari, Hostikka.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
