Roma vs Stuttgart Predictions
Stuttgart could have the edge in a tough-to-call Europa League contest. I'm backing BTTS, while I also fancy the Bundesliga side to avoid defeat on Thursday.
Germans in Fine Form
- Roma failed to win 2 of their last 3 home matches (Europa League)
- Roma lost 5 of their last 11 matches
- Roma have seen BTTS in 2 of their last 3 home matches
- Stuttgart are unbeaten in 12 of their last 14 matches
- Stuttgart have seen BTTS in their last 4 matches
Roma and Stuttgart to Meet for the First Time
Roma and Stuttgart will meet for the first time on Thursday.
Roma Bag Away Spoils
Roma return to home comforts after a fine 2-0 win at Torino in Serie A last weekend. Recently acquired Dutch forward Donyell Malen bagged the opener in his I Giallorossi debut before Paulo Dybala put the seal on a well-deserved win for Gian Piero Gasperini's side.
A lack of consistency has undermined Roma's positive start to the season. The Italians won six but lost five of 11 games played since the end of November. Similarly inconsistent in home fixtures, Roma won eight and lost five of 13 Serie A and Europa League games at the Olimpico this season.
With two games to play in the Europa League, league phase, Roma sit 10th in the competition, behind Stuttgart on goal difference.
Stuttgart Extend Unbeaten Run
Stuttgart come into Thursday's Europa League contest after a 1-1 draw against Union Berlin in the Bundesliga last weekend. Woo-Yeong Jeong's late goal denied VFB a fourth successive victory.
Sebastian Hoenes's side have found some of their best form in the past couple of months. Stuttgart won six and lost just one of their last nine fixtures since the start of December.
An impressive recent run in the Europa League has seen the Germans pick up victories in each of their last three continental fixtures, including a dominant 3-0 win at Go Ahead Eagles.
Predicted Lineups and Team News
Roma (3-4-2-1) Mile Svilar; Gianluca Mancini, Evan Ndicka, Mario Hermoso; Zeki Celik, Bryan Cristante, Manu Kone, Kostas Tsimikas; Matias Soule, Lorenzo Pellegrini; Paulo Dybala.
Tommaso Baldanzi, Pierluigi Gollini, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson and Leon Bailey are ruled out, while Donyell Malen is ineligible following his recent arrival from Aston Villa.
Stuttgart (4-4-2) Alexander Nubel; Josha Vagnoman, Ramon Hendriks, Julian Chabot, Maximilian Mittelstadt; Jamie Leweling, Atakan Karazor, Chema Andres, Chris Fuhrich; Ermedin Demirovic, Deniz Undav.
Sebastian Hoenes has four injury issues this week. Dan-Axel Zagadou and Angelo Stiller are ruled out, while Luca Jaquez and Lazar Jovanovic are rated doubtful to feature.