Servette vs Roma

Servette’s hopes of making it out of the Europa League group stages are on the line as they meet Roma at Stade de Geneva.

Servette’s first-ever group stage campaign of a major European competition looks destined to end on a sorrowful note unless they can upset the apple cart in Geneva and avenge a dreadful 4-0 defeat in the reverse fixture. Five points separate the Swiss outfit from the top two in Group G after a come-from-behind 2-1 home win over Sheriff Tiraspol last time out saw them end a three-game winless start to the Europa League proper (D1, L2). An eye-catching six-match winning streak in the build-up to this encounter could serve nicely if ‘Les Grenats’ can keep their composure in front of goal, having attempted a group-high 61 shots but only converted three. Defensive solidity has betrayed Servette in Europe, as they’re still waiting for their first clean sheet in Group G.

In the meantime, Roma ought to take this trip in a confident mood after a gutsy 3-1 home win against Udinese at the weekend arrested their two-game scoring drought in all competitions (D1, L1). Complacency got the better of Jose Mourinho’s side in the last Europa League round as they lost 2-0 at Slavia Prague after a three-game winning start. But a point in Geneva would do the trick of last season’s beaten finalists. That’s not a small ask, knowing they’ve suffered three defeats on their five most recent road trips (W1, D1), including three scoring blanks on the trot leading into this clash. Indeed, goals have been at a premium for ‘I Giallorossi’ on the road, as they’ve netted one or fewer in five of their last six away games.