Group G's top two convene at Roma's Stadio Olimpico on Thursday, as Slavia Prague visit the Italian capital with the teams locked on six points apiece.

Leaving Servette and Sheriff Tiraspol trailing in their wake, both sides have won their first two matches, leaving them primed for progress to the knockout stage.

Match preview

Though they have rarely seemed likely to breach Serie A's top four, since Jose Mourinho strode through the door at Roma's Trigoria training facility the capital-city club have continued to produce results in UEFA competition.

Winners of the inaugural Europa Conference League in 2022 and Europa League runners-up last term, Roma have started this season's continental campaign with back-to-back wins, scoring six times in the process.

Following a 4-0 defeat of Servette last time out - in which goals from star striker Romelu Lukaku and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini supplemented an Andrea Belotti brace - the Giallorossi have now won each of their last four Europa League group games stretching back to last autumn.

Now facing a double-header with Group G co-leaders Slavia Prague, Mourinho's men have used recent results in Europe as a springboard for success in Serie A, and after an awful start they have now won three league games on the spin.

Moving up to seventh place as a result, Roma edged out 10-man Monza on Sunday afternoon, when Stephan El Shaarawy struck late on to steal all three points and Mourinho was sent off for taunting the visitors with some characteristic mimicry.

Now, before meeting top-four rivals Inter Milan at San Siro this weekend, the Giallorossi again play host at Stadio Olimpico, where they have kept the most home clean sheets of any Serie A side in 2023 (10).

Returning to Rome for the first time in nearly three decades, Slavia Prague last met Thursday's hosts in a 1996 UEFA Cup quarter-final, which they won on away goals following a 3-3 aggregate draw.

The Czech club ultimately lost to Bordeaux in the semis - which remains the closest they have come to lifting major European silverware - but they could be targeting a similar run this season, given their superb start to the group phase.

After coming through qualifying, Slavia have scored eight times so far and are yet to concede a goal, following a 6-0 crushing of Moldovan champions Sheriff earlier this month, when Mojmir Chytil netted twice in a dominant display at Eden Arena.

A third straight victory will surely put them within touching distance of the knockout stage again, having reached European quarter-finals in three of the last five years, so coach Jindrich Trpisovsky will be keen to keep momentum rolling by at least avoiding defeat in Italy's 'Eternal City'.

Most recently, the Cervenobili turned over Slovacko in the Czech First League, where they remain unbeaten this season, with nine wins and three draws. Indeed, their last domestic defeat came back in May, at the hands of arch-rivals Sparta Prague, who lead the table by two points from Trpisovsky's men.

Team News

While Renato Sanches is back in training and hopes to feature after spending several weeks sidelined by injury, Roma will be without key men Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala on Thursday, in addition to long-term absentees Marash Kumbulla and Tammy Abraham.

Evan Ndicka and Sardar Azmoun were both withdrawn from Sunday's win over Monza having picked up knocks, but Jose Mourinho should be able to name Chris Smalling on the bench, after the English defender overcame the tendonitis problem that had kept him out of action for a month.

Up front, Romelu Lukaku has scored seven times in nine matches since joining the Giallorossi on loan in August, and he also has 22 goals from 35 previous Europa League appearances.

After naming a much-changed lineup at the weekend, as he celebrated his 143rd victory from 200 league games, Slavia Prague boss Jindrich Trpisovsky is set to select his strongest available side at Stadio Olimpico.

Nigerian defender Igoh Ogbu has resumed full training following a muscular injury, while Slovakia international Jakub Hromada returned to the midfield on Saturday; Petr Sevcik and Sheriff Sinyan are both back in contention too.

While Ivan Schranz and Mojmir Chytil should be paired in attack, Romanian wing-back Andres Dumitrescu starts on the left flank: the latter has played four games since signing for Slavia last month - all wins without conceding a single goal.

Roma possible starting lineup:
Svilar; Mancini, Llorente, Ndicka; Celik, Cristante, Paredes, Aouar, Zalewski; El Shaarawy, Lukaku

Slavia Prague possible starting lineup:
Mandous; Masopust, Ogbu, Holes; Doudera, Zafeiris, Dorley, Hromada, Dumitrescu; Schranz, Chytll

We say: Roma 2-1 Slavia Prague

Set for their toughest test in Europe so far this season, resurgent Roma will have to work hard for a fifth straight win.

Roared on by the Olimpico faithful, and now boasting more squad depth, the Italian club should have just too much nous in the final third for Slavia to handle.


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