Roma vs Porto

Stadio Olimpico sets the stage for the return leg of the Europa League knockout playoff tie between Roma and Porto.

Despite being reduced to ten men with 30 minutes left, Roma held Porto to a 1-1 draw in the first leg before beating Parma 1-0 in Serie A last weekend to extend their unbeaten league run to nine matches (W6, D3). Claudio Ranieri has inspired ‘I Giallorossi’ to an outstanding form resurgence, but securing European football for next season could hinge on winning this competition. Back to the Stadio Olimpico, where they’ve won seven of their last eight competitive games (D1), Roma should be confident of reaching the Round of 16. Adding to their optimism, 14 of their last 16 Europa League home outings have ended in victory (D1, L1), including three in a row without conceding in the build-up to this fixture.

On the other hand, Porto must defy their dismal traveling record in European football to progress to the Round of 16 of a major continental competition for the fourth season on the trot. Indeed, the visitors have only won two of their last 16 away Europa League matches (D5, L9). On the bright side, they head into proceedings amid a three-game unbeaten run on the road (W2, D1), including a narrow 1-0 triumph at domestic rivals Farense last weekend. That’s a small consolation for the Dragons, considering their dreadful form has yielded just two wins from ten competitive fixtures (D4, L4), highlighting the gravity of the crisis.