Sheriff Tiraspol will enter the UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stage for a second consecutive season after eliminating BATE Borisov and Klaksvik in the qualifying rounds, netting ten goals during that successful run. However, such gluttonous goal counts may not be repeated against stronger opposition after each of their six outings in the previous UEL group stage saw only one team score on the day (W2, L4).
The Moldovan outfit, who lost twice to Italian side Inter in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage, have already played six competitive home matches this season, winning each and scoring five goals in three of the last four. Their Italian coach Roberto Bordin will be hoping to see another quick start against his compatriots at Roma as his side have opened the scoring before the break in all six home outings this term.
Runners-up from the previous UEL, Roma will start their quest for a third consecutive European final away from home, where they failed to score in their last four such UEL matches (D2, L2). Despite that, it could come as a surprise that the Giallorossi have won just one of their previous eight such away matches, and their travelling woes are at risk of continuing after their only competitive road trip this term ended in a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Verona.
Their head coach José Mourinho could breathe a sigh of relief as Roma beat Empoli 7-0 in their most recent outing, but the Portuguese perfectionist still witnessed “things he didn’t like”. That match also saw Romelu Lukaku net his first goal for Roma, who according to Mourinho needed the Chelsea loanee’s services more than disappointed rivals Inter.
Players to watch: Sheriff’s Luvannor has already netted five competitive goals this season, including two penalties during the UEL qualifiers. Facing a Moldovan club could revive happy memories for Roma’s Bryan Cristante, who contributed to three goals against Empoli at the weekend and will fondly remember scoring his first international goal for Italy in a 6-0 friendly win against Moldova back in 2019.
Hot stat: Five of Roma’s last six UEL matches were goalless at half-time.
