Man Utd vs Roma – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Man Utd host Roma at Old Trafford on Thursday night in the Europa League semi-final first leg. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is chasing a first trophy as United manager. They face a Roma side who have dropped eight points in their last three Serie A matches, meaning winning the Europa League is their best route to playing UEFA Champions League football next season. Man Utd have won their last four home matches against the Giallorossi including a famous 7-1 victory in 2007.

Man Utd Form

Since losing at home to Sheffield United in January, Man Utd have played 21 matches with just one defeat, a 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Leicester. After a run which saw seven draws in 90 minutes across nine matches, Solskjaer’s team have hit a good run of victories.

The last 11 matches have seen eight wins including winning away at Man City, Milan and Tottenham. After six clean sheets in seven matches, Man Utd have conceded in four of their last seven matches. Man Utd reached this stage by cruising past Granada 4-0 on aggregate having beaten Milan 2-1 in the round of 16. With one eye on this match, United drew 0-0 at Leeds over the weekend.

Man Utd Team News

Solskjaer is still without Anthony Martial up front. The coach decided to rest Edinson Cavani for the vast majority of the Leeds match with this one in mind. Paul Pogba was also only used a substitute over the weekend and will start this match.

The backline picks itself, David De Gea should play in goal with this being a cup competition, and Pogba and Bruno Fernandes should form two of the three midfielders with Fred and Scott McTominay fighting for one spot. Another option is Pogba in the front three but Mason Greenwood is in great form and Marcus Rashford is likely to start along with Cavani.

Man Utd Motivation

United will play to win this match and avoid conceding an away goal. That will give them something to protect in Rome and allow Solskjaer to set up to spoil in midfield and play on the counter attack, which his side does so well.

The title race in the Premier League is all but over and second place looks relatively secure so all focus can be on this match.

Roma Form

Roma looked like title challengers after 20 Serie A matches but their last 15 matches have yielded just 15 points from their last 13 matches. Things have gone particularly bad of late with four defeats in their last seven in the league. Their last three results were a 3-1 defeat at Torino, a reasonable 1-1 draw with Atalanta and a 3-2 defeat to Cagliari over the weekend.

Paulo Fonseca’s side reached this stage having convincingly beaten Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 on aggregate (2-1 win away, 3-1 win at home) but they were very fortunate to beat Ajax in the quarter-finals. After burgling a 2-1 win in Amsterdam, they drew 1-1 at home. The Expected Goals for that tie was 3.9 to 1.5 as the Dutch giants missed a bucketload of clear chances

Team News

Fonseca has a few issues to deal with. Gianluca Mancini is suspended for this match in defence and Pedro is doubtful in the front three. Nicolo Zaniolo misses out in midfield with a long-term injury and left back Riccardo Calafiori is absent at left back.

Roma had Chris Smalling back in defence over the weekend after nine matches out with a knee injury and he will start in the middle of the back three against his former club. Edin Dzeko will start up front after being rested this weekend and Jordan Veretout also looks a certain starter after being protected with just 15 minutes played against Cagliari.

Roma Motivation

In their current form, Roma are likely to turn their usual 3-4-3 on attack into a solid 5-4-1 when defending. A score draw would naturally be a great result to take into the second leg.

In Serie A, Roma are six points off the Europa League places so all attention can go on this match with no other distractions.

Key Stats

Man Utd have lost 1 of their last 21 matches (W12, D8)

Man Utd have won 5 of their last 6 matches

Man Utd are 10 home matches unbeaten (W7, D3)

Roma have won their last 3 away matches in Europa League

Roma have lost their last 2 away matches, conceding 6 goals

Roma have won 1 of their last 7 Serie A matches (L4, D2)

Man Utd are big favourites for this match considering Roma’s poor recent form. The visitors are capable of absorbing pressure and winning big away matches, as they did at Ajax, but they gave up a plethora of big chances. A United win by more than one goal could be on the cards here.