AS Roma will look to keep their chances of qualifying for the next round of the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League when they travel to Helsinki on Thursday.
Venue: Bolt Arena (Helsinki)
Key Statistics
HJK have won just one of their last five European group stage games.
The hosts have failed to score in their last two games.
None of HJK’s last 18 UEL games produced more goals before half-time than after (W4, D6, L8).
AS Roma are unbeaten in their last four away games (W3, D1).
They have kept just two clean sheets in their last eleven games.
Head to head
AS Roma won the first leg 3-0.
Latest performances in all competitions
Ludogorets: L-L-W-D-W
Roma: L-W-D-W-L
HJK
HJK will look to win their first game in the Europa League this season when they host Roma on Thursday.
The hosts just secured their 32nd Finnish Veikkausliiga title this month but are sitting at the bottom of the table in Group C.
They ended their domestic season with a 1-0 defeat at home on October 16, which has left them more time to prepare for their final two competitive matches of 2022.
But they are only fighting for a transfer to the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) after claiming only one point so far (D1, L3) in the UEL. A win here against an AS Roma side that are three points ahead will give them a chance of claiming that third place.
But given that they have won just one of their last five European group-stage games, they cannot be backed for a win. But they will look to recreate a shock result against the Rome giants akin to their famous win against the all-conquering Liverpool side in the early 1980s.
Possible HJK starting line-up
Conor Hazard; Miro Tenho, Paulus Arajuuri, Aapo Halme; Matti Peltola, Nassim Boujellab, Santeri Vaananen, Murilo; Anthony Olusanya, Malik Abubakari, Casper Terho.
Injured: Riski Ro, Moren
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Jukka Raitala
AS Roma
AS Roma’s future in the Europa League is hanging in the balance after an underwhelming start to the group-stage games.
The Italian side have won only one of their opening four UEL games, with one draw and two loss in those games. That win came against HJK in the reverse fixture.
But since then, Jose Mourinho’s men have been beaten three times in seven games (W3, D1). The last of those losses came at the weekend in a 1-0 loss to Napoli; a loss which was labelled as ‘undeserved‘ by Mourinho.
The Rome-based club will be travelling north with only a win on their minds as they trail second-placed Ludogorets by three points.
Failure to win here could well condemn them to drop down into the UECL, although that would at least give them the chance to defend the Conference League trophy they won earlier this year.
Possible Roma starting line-up
Rui Patricio; Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, Roger Ibanez; Rick Karsdorp, Bryan Cristante, Nemanja Matić; Nicolo Zaniolo, Lorenzo Pellegrini; Tammy Abraham.
Injured: Georginio Wijnaldum, Paulo Dybala, Zeki Celik
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Odds
| HJK Helsinki to win | Draw | AS Roma to win | |
| Odds | 9.00 | 5.25 | 1.33 |
| Probability (%) | 11 | 18 | 71 |
Prediction
HJK 1-3 Roma
