Roma v Belgium is a friendly and will be played on Wednesday at 21:00: news, statistics, TV, streaming, likely formations, predictions.
The second part of Roma’s pre-season training camp has been held in the breezy and not very sultry Algarve region of Portugal for a few years now. And it is here that the Giallorossi traditionally play their first friendlies, often against local teams. This time it will start with a bang, as José Mourinho’s men will be tested by the insidious Braga, fresh from third place in the Primeira Liga, Lusitania’s top league.
The Biancorossi faced Fiorentina in the Conference League last winter but disappointed, losing the first leg and compromising qualification for the next round. This year they have the opportunity to play in the Champions League, by virtue of the placement they achieved last season, but they will have to overcome a preliminary round in order to enter the group stage. With such an important commitment approaching, Braga will certainly have more fuel in their legs than the Capitolini, having started their preparation earlier. In fact, Horta and his team-mates have already played four friendlies: so far only one victory for the men led by Artur Jorge, who have won against Torreense, Boavista, Cardiff and Bristol Rovers, scoring 10 goals in total and conceding two.
For Roma, however, only two outings against Boreale and Latina, beaten 4-0 and 6-0 respectively. Mourinho, who is impatiently awaiting reinforcements from the market – so far N’Dicka and Aouar have arrived on a zero-parameter basis, Kristensen on loan – should re-propose the Dybala-Belotti pairing, which appeared inspired in the last friendly. There will obviously be no Abraham, who was injured on the last day of last season’s Serie A and will be out for several more months.
Abel Ruiz
The Prediction
First reliable test for the Giallorossi, who face a team that is already ‘ready’: Braga will be playing in the third qualifying round of the Champions League in a few days’ time and are definitely further along in their preparation. According to the bookmakers, Roma are still the favourites, but we will be more cautious, hypothesising an intense but less than three-goal match.
Roma v Belgium likely line-up
- ROMA (3-5-2): Svilar; Mancini, Smalling, Llorente; Kristensen, Bove, Cristante, Matic, Spinazzola; Dybala, Belotti.
- BRAGA (4-3-3): Magalhaes; Banza, Borja, Bruma, Djalo; A. Horta, R. Horta, Mendes; Niakaté, Saatçi, Carvalho.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
