Roma vs Young Boys 04/12/20

Roma and Young Boys go head-to-head at the Stadio Olimpico in an exciting UEFA Europa League showdown.

The hosts have hit the ground running in Group A, winning three of their opening four Europa League group stage fixtures so far (D1) to qualify for the knock-out rounds with two games to spare. Except for a goalless away draw with CSKA Sofia on Matchday 2, Paulo Fonseca’s men have netted over 1.5 goals in each of the remaining three group stage matches, mustering a total of nine. However, a lack of first-half action has seen Roma fail to get on the scoresheet before half-time three times across that four-game sequence. The ‘Giallorossi’ have won five of their six previous home meetings with Swiss visitors in major European competitions, but their last such fixture back in 2010 ended in a 2-1 loss to Basel.

Meanwhile, the visitors have enjoyed an upturn in European form of late, going from two consecutive Europa League matches without a victory (D1, L1) to back-to-back wins ‘to nil.’ That said, they enter the penultimate group stage round sitting three points clear of third-placed CFR Cluj. Quick out of the blocks, Gerardo Seoane’s men have registered a clear majority (83.33%) of their total Europa League goals scored this term in the first half of play (5/6). Curiously, each of Young Boys’ last four away matches in the Europa League group stage has featured under 2.5 total goals (W1, D3), with three yielding the identical 1-1 scoreline. But, Young Boys have lost three of their five previous European clashes against Serie A clubs (W2), with four of those fixtures producing over 2.5 goals.