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Europa Conference League | Semi-Finals | 2nd Leg
May 5, 2022 at 8pm UK
Stadio Olimpico
LL

Roma
1 - 0
Leicester

Abraham (11')
Mancini (41'), Karsdorp (87')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Fofana (68')

Preview: Roma vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Roma vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa Conference League clash between Roma and Leicester City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

With everything to play for after a first-leg draw in England, Roma and Leicester City will fight for a place in the Europa Conference League final at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday.

The Italian side took an early lead away from home but head into the second leg level after a second-half equaliser from Brendan Rodgers's men.


Match preview

Roma headed into the Europa Conference League semi-finals on the back of an impressive turnaround in the previous round, as they came from behind to dump out Bodo/Glimt.

Jose Mourinho's men had already suffered a shock 6-1 defeat to the Norwegian outfit in the group stage, and they fell 2-1 behind in the first leg, only to put up a dominant 4-0 thrashing in the reverse fixture in Italy.

Tammy Abraham drew them level on aggregate inside the first five minutes before Nicolo Zaniolo hit a hat-trick to book their semi-final tie with Leicester City, and the Giallorossi made the trip to England for the first leg last week.

Lorenzo Pellegrini gave Mourinho's side the lead in the 15th minute, but they were eventually forced to return to the Italian capital on level terms after conceding a second-half equaliser.

While Roma should not be disheartened by coming into the second leg level with home advantage, they do come in on the back of a disappointing goalless draw with Bologna at the weekend, ruling out a top-four finish in Serie A as a result, and they will now be keen to bounce back and earn a place in the final on Thursday.

Leicester City, meanwhile, also arrive looking to put their league form behind them, as the Foxes have endured an underwhelming campaign in the Premier League by their own standards.

The continental run has been somewhat of a shining light, though, as, after dropping out of the Europa League group stage, they got past Randers and Rennes before meeting Dutch high-flyers PSV Eindhoven in the quarter-finals.

After a goalless first leg, Brendan Rodgers's men went behind in the Netherlands, only for James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira to net goals in the final 15 minutes to overturn the deficit and secure their progression to the final four.

They now come into Thursday's second leg in the Italian capital on level terms thanks to a second-half own goal last week, as Harvey Barnes's cross was diverted into the Giallorossi's net by defender Gianluca Mancini just after the hour mark.

Now on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, putting them 11th in the English top flight and without a win in four league games, Rodgers's men will fight to keep their hopes of lifting the trophy alive with a second-leg win on Thursday, with the Conference League title being their only remaining avenue into continental football next season.

Roma Europa Conference League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • D

Roma form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • D

Leicester City Europa Conference League form:
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D

Leicester City form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • D
  • L

Team News

Roma are not set to have to deal with any forced absences after the recent returns of striker Nicolo Zaniolo and midfielder Bryan Cristante, with full-back Leonardo Spinazzola also fit to feature in the squad after a long-term layoff since Euro 2020.

Mourinho looked to rest several key players in the weekend's game with Bologna, as the likes of Chris Smalling, Tammy Abraham, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicola Zalewski all dropped to the bench, and although he had to call upon several late in the game, they are set to return from the outset on Thursday.

Abraham will lead the line, with the Englishman netting 24 goals in all competitions for the capital club since his summer switch from Chelsea.

Leicester City have doubts over the fitness of midfield duo Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Maddison, after they missed out on the Tottenham game due to calf and hip issues respectively, while Wilfred Ndidi and Ryan Bertrand will continue spells on the sidelines.

Elsewhere, centre-backs Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana were both said to be rested at the weekend, and they should come back into the starting XI on Thursday, with Caglar Soyuncu only expected to keep his place if Rodgers deploys a back three for the trip to Italy.

Jamie Vardy was fit to feature off the bench last time out, and he could be in line for a start, while Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka are also pushing for places at the top end of the pitch with Ademola Lookman and Harvey Barnes likely to play if the Foxes line up with a wide front three.

Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Karsdorp, Cristante, Pellegrini, Zalewski; Mkhitaryan, Zaniolo; Abraham

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Fofana, Evans, Soyuncu; Pereira, Soumare, Tielemans, Castagne; Barnes, Vardy, Lookman


We say: Roma 2-1 Leicester City (Roma win 3-2 on aggregate)

Roma battled well and showed their quality before leaving Leicester with a draw last week, and, with the benefit of a passionate and hostile home crowd, they could go one better in the second leg.

The Foxes travel with a badly hit squad and little momentum, and we would not be surprised to see them fall just short against Jose Mourinho's well-drilled side at the Stadio Olimpico.


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