Roma vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Stadio Olimpico forms the backdrop for the first leg of an exciting Europa League last-16 tie between Roma and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Roma drew both Europa League knockout playoff round legs versus Feyenoord 1-1 but progressed into the round of 16 with a penalty shoot-out win, acquiring an opportunity to reach the UEFA quarter-finals for the third season on the trot. The club’s renaissance under new manager Daniele De Rossi continued at the weekend as a 4-1 demolition of Monza extended Roma’s unbeaten run in all competitions to five games (W3, D2) and solidified their hopes of securing a first top-four finish in Serie A since 2017/18. ‘I Giallorossi’ head into proceedings as one of Europe’s most formidable home sides after losing just two of their 19 competitive home outings this season (W13, D4). On top of that, they’ve been triumphant in seven of their last eight home European matches against Premier League visitors.

That spells trouble for visiting Brighton, who take this trip amid a rough patch, having lost their last two domestic fixtures ‘to nil,’ including a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Fulham at the weekend. Despite carrying a reputation as a free-firing squad under Roberto De Zerbi, the Seagulls have only netted once across their last three games. However, they’ve fared impressively in their first-ever Europa League campaign, winning back-to-back away matches in the group stages without conceding after a 2-2 draw at Marseille. Victories against Ajax and AEK Athens form part of Brighton’s four-game winning streak in the competition proper ‘to nil,’ suggesting they’ll not bow down in the Italian capital.