Roma V Borussia Monchengladbach
Thursday 24 October 2019 – 20:00 Kick-Off
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Borussia Monchengladbach or Draw (Double Chance)
Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Unibet
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13/10 | 53/20 | 39/20 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 22 October 2019 at 16:20)
Preview: Four points from a possible six is a reasonable return for AS Roma, who are perched atop Group J and some three points clear of a Borussia Monchegladbach side who should be only too aware of their pressing need for further points. Can the Germans depart the Stadio Olimpico with a result worth shouting about or will the Italians put on another show?
UEFA Europa League Betting – 22Bet
Roma Preview – Can Giallorossi turn around recent slump?
The cumulative effect of mounting injuries along with some underwhelming, if not entirely drastic, form has meant Roma approach this third fixture of their Europa League group stage campaign somewhat out of sorts. To complicate matters even further, there is an important league fixture looming large this weekend, as AC Milan make their way to town. It therefore remains to be seen just what sort of team coach Paulo Fonseca opts for here bearing everything in mind.
Strong starting line-ups were named for earlier clashes with Istanbul Basaksehir and Wolfsberger, thrashing the former 4-0 inside their Stadio Olimpico before a 1-1 draw away to the Austrian newcomers. Not a bad return all things considered, as the Giallorossi share the outright lead in this section. However with no fixture looking like a walk in the park at present, there doesn’t appear much scope for ringing the changes even if their creaking squad is seemingly crying out for such.
Yet there is an argument an injection of fresh legs is what this team urgently needs, after a stale period which has seen them slip to sixth in Serie A and drawn their last three games in all competitions. Last weekend saw them limited to a goalless stalemate in Sampdoria, who had been in hopeless form prior. Hardly a morale booster, then. Nonetheless, this is a Roma outfit which has only incurred the one loss all season (W4 D5 L1) – though that did occur at home, in a 2-0 scoreline versus Atalanta.
Borussia Monchengladbach Preview – Last-gasp draw in Turkey catalyst for revival?
Stunned – and humiliated – on Matchday One, as they were soundly beaten 4-0 on their own patch by a club in Wolfsberger AC who were making their group stage debut in UEFA competition. Then indebted to a fine display from their goalkeeper, which was ultimately complemented by a stoppage time equaliser, to draw at Istanbul Basaksehir. It is fair to say this group has been anything but plain sailing for Borussia Monchengladbach.
It might be hard to believe, then, that this is the current best team in Germany. According to the latest Bundesliga standings anyway. Not even a recent loss in Dortmund could dislodge them from top spot as Marco Rose’s side lead from the front in a league that has been frenetic and devoid of consistency from the outset this season. That Dortmund defeat was a first of any kind for five matches (W3 D1 L1).
The coach would name several key individuals on the bench in that shocking loss first time out. He will have also observed how his team struggled in Turkey. On that basis, it would be an unnecessary risk were anything other than a full strength Gladbach team to take to the field from the outset in Italy, even with a difficult league fixture to come at the weekend against Eintracht Frankfurt. Just the one away defeat in 2019/20 (W4 D2 L1) suggests they are certainly capable of collecting some much-needed points.
Roma V Borussia Monchengladbach Key Facts:
- Roma have won less than 50% of their matches played at home this season (W2 D2 L1).
- Monchengladbach suffered their first defeat away from home of the season last weekend (W4 D2 L1).
- After two rounds, Roma have four points (W1 D1) whereas Monchengladbach are sat on one point (D1 L1).
Betting Summary
Roma were nothing short of ruthless when dispatching Istanbul Basaksehir in their opening game, while a draw in Austria with Wolfsberger wasn’t the worst result either. So there is less pressure on them when compared to their opposite numbers, with Borussia Monchengladbach fortunate to even have a point registered to their name after scraping a draw at Basaksehir with a late leveller, but only after being embarrassed on home soil by Wolfsberger (0-4).
The hosts are a fair price, at odds-against, but have been inconsistent at home this season, winning only two of five (W2 D2 L1). The visitors were beaten away from home as recently as last weekend; however, that did come against a very good Dortmund side, and by a slim 1-0 margin. It was also their first loss on the road all season (W4 D2 L1) and if they approach this encounter as they should, which is in the knowledge their need for points is greater, than there is every chance of them avoiding defeat in Rome.
