Istanbul Basaksehir V AS Roma
Thursday 28 November 2019 – 17:55 Kick-Off
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Istanbul Basaksehir or Draw (Double Chance)
Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
UEFA Europa League Betting – 22Bet
(All betting odds displayed were correct as of 26 November 2019 at 12:10)
Preview: Nobody has managed to assert their authority on Group J. Three points separate all four teams, with Istanbul Basaksehir leading the way on seven points, two clear of AS Roma who are next up at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium in Turkey.
Istanbul Basaksehir V AS Roma Live Stats & Betting Odds
Istanbul Basaksehir Preview – Qualification sealed with a game to spare?
There may have been supporters fearing the worst early on, when Istanbul Basaksehir (1st – W2 D1 L1, GF5 GA5) were emphatically beaten by four goals in the reversal of this encounter over in Italy. Yet the Turkish outfit, who have finished no lower than fourth in each of the past five league campaigns, responded magnificently to such a demoralising setback. Rolling off two wins and draw thereafter, the club are now in a commanding position to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Victory on Thursday is all that is required in order for them to safely move into the draw for the next phase. Not only is that a huge incentive for Okan Buruk and his players, it would be the best possible way to atone for that miserable 4-0 defeat suffered at the hands of the same opposition. Even a draw wouldn’t be the worst of outcomes. Considering only one team – Fenerbache, way back in August – have beaten them inside their stadium since the season begun (W5 D3 L1), their prospects appear healthy.
Austrian side Wolfsberger (1-0) have already been clinically dispatched in Istanbul, while the current leaders of the German Bundesliga, Borussia Monchengladbach (1-1), seemed destined for the same fate only for them to score a late equaliser. Meanwhile, four of their five victories as hosts were by a one goal margin, with seven of nine at home involving both teams scoring. A couple of potential bets worthy of some consideration.
AS Roma Preview – European aspirations on the line in Turkey?
One win from four represents a disappointing return from AS Roma (3rd – W1 D2 L1, GF7 GA4). As a direct consequence, the Italians find themselves precariously situated in the group as they make their way to the hostile setting that is Istanbul in Turkey. Lose this match and, should Borussia Monchengladbach win elsewhere in Austria, it would spell early elimination for a club good enough reach the last-sixteen of the Champions League last season.
This is a hugely important fixture then, one the Giallorossi ideally need to be winning but certainly dare not lose. Having comfortably come out on top when these sides met in Rome in September, easing to a 4-0 scoreline inside Stadio Olimpico, the Italians should be quietly optimistic regarding a positive outcome here. Victory at the weekend will also have done team morale the world of good, overcoming Brescia at home with a minimal amount of fuss to win 3-0.
Performances outside of Rome, however, have been much less convincing. Roma have struggled to come to terms with the demands of playing away from home lately, winning only one of the last five said matches (W1 D2 L2). Two of them were in this group, firstly drawing 1-1 in Austria with Wolfsberger, and later losing 2-1 in Germany to Borussia Monchengladbach – conceding the decisive winning goal in the 95th minute.
Istanbul Basaksehir Vs AS Roma Key Facts:
- At home this season, Basaksehir have only lost the one game (W5 D3 L1) and have taken four of the six possible points from such matches in this group.
- Roma, unsuccessful in their attempts to win in Austria and Germany in this group, have won once in their last five away fixtures overall (W1 D2 L2).
- The previous meeting, which was back in September, went rather smoothly for the Italians with AS Roma easing to a 4-0 victory.
Betting Summary
A simple equation for Basaksehir. After staging a magnificent recovery since losing 4-0 in Rome, claiming seven out of a possible nine points thereafter (six of which coming from home fixtures), last season’s runners-up in Turkey know victory here would send them through to the latter stages of the tournament. The team are currently eight unbeaten at home in all competitions (W5 D3), a run stretching right back to August.
Semi-finalists in the Champions League as recently as a couple of seasons ago. These are undeniably testing times for AS Roma, who could, quite conceivably, finish the evening out of Europe altogether. The good news for coach Paulo Fonseca will be the sight of his injury list easing. The bad news, however, is his side has won one of its last five away matches in all competitions, failing to do so either in Austria or Germany in this group so far.
Roma’s attacking qualities came to the fore when these teams clashed in Italy. The Italians will do very well to replicate that in Turkey, though, where Basaksehir are notoriously difficult opponents at the best of times but could be especially dangerous in the here and now, knowing victory would guarantee them sucessful qualification. For me, the hosts are being underestimated.
