2021/23 UEFA Europa Conference League winners AS Roma will begin their journey in the UEFA Europa League this Wednesday with a visit to Bulgarian side PFC Ludogorets Razgrad.
Venue: Huvepharma Arena (Razgrad)
Key Statistics
Ludogorets are playing in their sixth-consecutive season in the UEFA Europa League (UEL).
The hosts are without a win in 18 UEL games (D4, L14).
But they have lost just one of their last eight competitive games (W6, D1).
They have kept six clean sheets in their last eight games.
AS Roma have won just two of their last nine away games in all competitions (D3, L5).
The visitors have progressed from the group stage in each of their previous four UEL appearances.
Jose Mourinho has won all seven of his previous matches against Bulgarian teams.
Head to head
This will be the first meeting between both sides.
Latest performances in all competitions
Ludogorets: W-W-W-D-W
AS Roma: L-W-D-W-W
Ludogorets
Ludogorets begin their UEFA Europa League campaign with a home game against AS Roma.
The Bulgarian team come into this game having hammered Hebar 1918 6-0 in the Bulgarian Premier League, a win which saw them register their sixth win of the new season and are yet to taste defeat in the process.
Ante Simundza’s men are drawn up in Group C with AS Roma, Real Betis and HJK Helsinki and face strong competition to make it to the next round of the Europa League.
Ludogorets qualified for the Europa League by beating Zalgiris Viln in the Play-offs early in August, but their last Europa League campaign was a disaster with the Bulgarians finishing fourth in Group F in the 2020-21 season.
Ante Simundza will be tasked with improving their performance in the European Competition and the Slovenian coach will be hoping that his boys bring their domestic brilliance to the international stage as they take on UEFA Conference League holders.
Ludogorets Razgrad will be counting on Huvepharma Arena to become the 12th man when Jose Mourinho’s boys roll into town, and a win against one of the group favourites will be a step in the right direction.
Possible Ludogorets starting lineup
Sergio Padt; Cicinho, Olivier Verdon, Anton Nedyalkov, Denny Gropper; Ivan Yordanov, Jakub Piotrowski; Igor Thiago, Rick Morals, Bernard Tekpetey; Kiril Despodov.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
AS Roma
As Roma saw their early season unbeaten streak come to a grinding halt as they suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of Udinese last weekend.
Jose Mourinho’s men were beaten and battered by the Udine-based outfit, who took an early lead through Destiny Udogie in the fifth minute, and they didn’t look back and went on to score three more inside 90 minutes despite having less possession and shots on target than Mourinho’s men.
The nature of the defeat would have been a big worry for Jose Mourinho whose team had conceded the least goal in the Serie A division before the game against Udinese.
AS Roma won the Europa Conference League last May and are keen to improve on their success last season by repeating the same in UEFA’S second-tier competition.
I Giallorossi are considered one of the favourites in Group C and Jose Mourinho will be eager to see his men bounce back from their defeat and secure a win against the Bulgarian team as they aim to secure three vital points in Group C.
Possible AS Roma starting line-up
Rui Patricio; Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, Roger Ibanez; Rick Karsdorp, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante, Nemanja Matić; Paulo Dybala, Leonardo Spinazzola; Tammy Abraham.
Injured: Nicolo Zaniolo, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ebrima Darboe, Marash Kumbulla, Stephen El Shaarawy
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Ludogorets 0-2 Roma
