Chelsea v Roma Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 18th October 7.45pm
The Blues can stamp their authority over the group with a win at Stamford Bright on Wednesday night. They rolled out a dramatic win out at Atletico Madrid on match day two to really make a big statement in the competitive group. So this is where a bit of consolidation will help because if they make it three wins from three then they will be sitting five points clear at the top of the group. Roma though have already shown some quality in having held Atletico Madrid to a draw. Can they frustrate the Blues?
Chelsea v Roma Betting Tips
Consolidation. That is what this game is all about for Chelsea as they are the group leaders by two points ahead of Roma. A win gives them full control of the group as they would move five points clear. But with the form of the Blues just dropping a little bit recently and with important absentees N’Golo Kane and Alvaro Morata missing, they have looked a little bit average. There is hope that Morata could be back for this. After back to back Premier League defeats against Man City and Crystal Palace, Chelsea are feeling the pressure as they take on Antonio Conte’s old rivals Roma in midweek. This is the first time since the 2012/13 group stage against Juventus that Chelsea have faced Italian opposition. They took a 2-2 home draw in that before losing 3-0 out in Turin. They have met Roma before, their previous meetings came in the 2008/09 group stage with Chelsea winning 1-0 at home and then losing 3-1 out at Stadio Olimpico. Roma are a solid defensive unit and under 2.5 goals at Ladbrokes is a great even money quote.
Alvaro Morata who was injured against Atletico Madrid on match day two, was back in training this week and there is a hope that he could make some kind of appearance. He is the 10/11 anytime goalscorer favourite for the match with the less impressive Michy Batshuayi at 11/10 (although he does have six goals in his last seven outings for club and country). Chelsea’s home record against Italian clubs is W5 D2 L2. At home, they have lost just one of their last nine in Europe though and that was a 2-1 loss against PSG back in the 2016 round of 16 (W6 D2). Chelsea have won the group stage in each of their last three campaigns, and three points would see them edge closer to making it four in a row. In the Ladbrokes correct score market, a 1-1 draw is the shortest priced option at 6/1 with Chelsea 1-0 at 13/2. Overall this season in all competitions, Chelsea have won just three of six games at Stamford Bridge (D2 L1).
Roma are going well in Serie A but go into this one off the back of a 1-0 loss against leaders Napoli on Saturday. However, they won each of their six previous games to that across all competitions. Roma opened with a home draw against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and then posted a 2-1 victory out at Karabakh. So they are well in the hunt for a top two place and would really blow the group open with three away points at Stamford Bridge. Surprisingly the win over Karabakh was Roma’s first win in eight UEFA Champions League matches (home and away including qualifying). They have only taken a win in two of their last 17 games in the competition now, so they aren’t running great European form, but they are looking strong enough right at the moment to make an impression in this one. They won two of their five away games in the Europa League last season, but have won just one of their last eleven away in the Champions League.
Roma don’t have a particularly good record out in England either as they have won only one of their 15 previous away games in England, losing nine of those. The last time they made the trip to a Premier League side was when they played out a 1-1 draw with Man City in the 2014/15 Champions League group stage. The Giallorossi have won just once in England then and that was a 1-0 triumph at Liverpool FC in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup fourth round. Roma don’t quite boast the powerful scoring that the other strong Italian sides like Juventus and Napoli have, but they do have Edin Dzeko going really well again this season and he is a very tempting 6/4 Ladbrokes anytime goalscorer option. He was the top scorer in Serie A last season and has 10 goals for club and country this season from 13 appearances. Defensively, the Italians are doing very well as they have five clean sheets in nine games in all competitions this season. Both teams not to score is good value at 21/10 with Ladbrokes.
Chelsea v Roma Betting Odds
Chelsea 8/13, Draw 11/4, Roma 19/4
Chelsea v Roma Predictions
Chelsea to win: This is a great opportunity for Chelsea and although they are potentially still missing a fully-fit Alvaro Morata, and therefore their only world class striker, they can muddle through this one and get a win on the board. Roma are tough at the back, but the Blues can edge things in a low scoring fixture.
