Roma vs Feyenoord Prediction & Betting Tips - Conference League

Prediction published on 22/05/2022, 15:18  by Kevin Richard | Modified on 24/05/2022 at 03:56 in Conference League Predictions

The Europa Conference League final is here and two teams with very different styles will be facing off. Italian side AS Roma and Dutch side Feyenoord Rotterdam go head to head in Tirana in the first ever final of this competition. Jose Mourinho, the Roma coach, is a specialist in playing finals, and one major expectation is that he will roll out a defensive strategy. This will not mean his side’s attacking threat will be diminished; Tammy Abraham comes into this game on a very good scoring run and as he wraps up the season, he’d want to lead Roma to continental silverware. Roma didn’t have a great run towards the end of the Serie A campaign, winning just once in their final six matches. A 3-0 win away to Torino on the final day prepares them perfectly for this encounter while they are unbeaten in the last three Conference League matches. Roma have one loss in nine Conference League matches, won five, and six of the last 10 have seen over 2.5 goals scored. Also, both sides have scored in six of Roma’s last 10 Conference League matches.

Feyenoord suffered a shock loss in their closing game of the Eredivisie campaign, falling 2-1 at home to Twente. It was a game with no competitive meaning though, with Feyenoord having confirmed a third place finish. This one will need all their competitive abilities to come out though. Feyenoord have lost once in the last 11 matches and will be looking to impose themselves here. Their style of play is more attacking and they will need this a lot, as they face a side managed by a very defensive coach. Feyenoord have failed to score in just one of their last 21 matches but they have just two clean sheets in the last 18 matches. They two clean sheets have both come in the last five games but one common feature here has been over 2.5 goals. In their last 15 matches, 11 have produced over 2.5 goals. Four times in the last five Conference League matches, Feyenoord have scored three goals and 10 of their last 11 matches in the competition have produced over 2.5 goals.

Going into this game, both teams will have some concerns with injuries in their squads. AS Roma will be sweating over the fitness of Henrikh Mkhitaryan who is also likely to be unsettled by reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan. Injury prone Nicolo Zaniolo has been used sparingly by Mourinho but here the Portuguese coach may just decide to start him as he sends out his best from the first minute. As for Feyenoord, their biggest worry will be in goalkeeper Justin Billow who has been working hard to get ready for this game, while defender Tyrell Malacia remains a doubt.

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The Form of the Finalists

• Roma: W-D-L-W-D
• Feyenoord: L-W-D-D-W

The above results are for all competitions; each of the two sides has a loss, two wins and two draws in the last five outings. This may point to a balanced game ahead, but again their strategies in matches have been different, with Roma under Mourinho expected to be defensive and Feyenoord under Arne Slot known for an attacking approach. Despite these approaches, the fact that the two sides have the leading scorers in the competition is a guarantee of goals. Cyriel Dessers of Feyenoord is the Conference League lead scorer with 10 goals and Tammy Abraham of Roma has nine goals.

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Head-to-head Results

These two sides are meeting for the third time in history. In the 2014/15 season, they faced off in the Europa League Round of 16 and AS Roma carried the day, with a 3-2 aggregate win. Gervinho was the star in the two games, scoring in both legs but Feyenoord's fate in the games was sealed by quick red cards to Mitchell te Vrede and Erwin Mulder. They will hope for a more disciplined approach here.

Possible line ups

• AS Roma: Rui Patrício; Mancini, Smalling, Ibañez; Karsdorp, Cristante, Sérgio Oliveira, Pellegrini, Zalewski; Zaniolo, Abraham
• Feyenoord: Marciano; Geertruida, Trauner, Senesi, Malacia; Til, Aursnes, Orkun Kökçü; Nelson, Dessers, Sinisterra

On which TV channel can you watch Roma v Feyenoord?

The match can be seen on BTSport but also online at YouTube.com as the final has to be available to all not just subscribers.  If you are not in front of your TV, know that the Livescore of SportyTrader is also available.