Can Salzburg upset Roma?
While the round of 16 is on the agenda in the top flight, the Europa League continues with the intermediate round. On Thursday, the first legs in the eight knockout duels between the relegated teams from the Champions League and the group runners-up in the Europa League will be played.
Among others, the last remaining Austrian representative is in action. The bookmakers offer completely balanced betting odds on the winner of the match between Red Bull Salzburg and AS Roma in Wals-Siezenheim.
The Romans, reigning title holders in the newly created UEFA Europa Conference League, are considered quite clear favourites by the bookmakers in this knockout clash. However, the Mourinho eleven has repeatedly stumbled in away games in recent months despite their international successes. Salzburg certainly don’t have the quality of the past in the spring of 2023, but they certainly fancy their chances against the traditional club from the eternal city. The young guns have nothing to lose and the Europa League is, after all, the favourite competition of the bulls from the city of Mozart.
Of course, the betting base does not only provide a prediction for the Red Bull Salzburg vs. AS Roma match, but the big matchday on Thursday is comprehensively highlighted.
Red Bull Salzburg – Statistics & current form
The 2023 calendar year began with disappointment for Matthias Jaissle’s team, as the targeted national double will no longer be possible. In the Cup quarter-finals, Salzburg were beaten on penalties by SK Sturm Graz. A warning shot, because winning the championship is still a long way off. Above all, the division of points after 22 games promises further excitement. A six-point lead then becomes just three points.
Confidence against the promoted team
After the first disappointment, it was business as usual for the Austrian Bundesliga leaders last weekend. Austria Lustenau were sent home with a 4-0 defeat. The Vorarlbergers are, of course, no match for the Giallorossi from Rome in terms of quality, but the game was nevertheless a good indication for the upcoming Europa League highlight.
The Mourinho eleven will try a similar defensive alignment as was the case with Austria Lustenau. Salzburg will have visual advantages for the entire duration of the game and will have to run against a defensive bulwark. The return of Brazilian Fernando (double goal scorer) is of great importance, because the man from Sugarloaf brings another component to the game. Salzburg’s pressing machine is mainly convincing because of its speed, but Fernando can also hold a ball and does not necessarily need a lot of space in front of him to become dangerous.
In the forward play, Salzburg should therefore be able to crack the Roman defensive bar. However, the Bullen defence is extremely vulnerable and has one or two lapses in almost every game. At this level, this is usually punished, which is why they conceded at least one goal in five of their six matches in the CL group stage. For the first leg between Red Bull Salzburg and AS Roma, the odds on both teams scoring are accordingly a good option.
Last matches played by Red Bull Salzburg:
Bundesliga
11/02/2023 – RB Salzburg 4 – 0 Austria Lustenau
Club friendlies
04/02/2023 – RB Salzburg 3 – 4 Grazer AK
Cup
04/02/2023 – RB Salzburg (4)1 – 1(5) Sturm Graz
Friendly club matches
28/01/2023 – RB Salzburg 1 – 0 Slovan Bratislava
20/01/2023 – Karlsruher SC 0 – 3 RB Salzburg
AS Roma – Statistics & current form
The football under Jose Mourinho is rarely pretty to look at, but the success proves “The Special One” from Portugal right. In almost every job he has had, he has ended up winning a trophy. With Roma, he immortalised himself in the history books, as the Giallorossi are the first title winners in the history of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Mourinho stands for stability in the defence, controlled risk and is accordingly the antithesis of the style of play cultivated by Red Bull Salzburg, for example. However, it is noticeable in recent years that the number of games without conceding goals has fallen noticeably. With 19 goals conceded in 22 league games, Roma have conceded less than one goal per game on average, but the bottom line is “only” eight games to nil.
Away with difficulties
The Romans have not been particularly convincing on the international stage in autumn 2022. After four games in the group stage, the team had its back to the wall with just one win. However, thanks to final victories against HJK Helsinki and Ludogorets Rasgrad, the super-doom could still be avoided. The weakness on the road was particularly noticeable, as neither Betis Sevilla (1-1 draw) nor Ludogorets (1-2 defeat) managed an away win. And even in the victory in Helsinki the zero did not stand still (2-1 win).
Roma are still much more defensive than many other opponents, but with Dybala, Abraham or Belotti, the team does not usually need many opportunities to score. The results of the season so far on the international stage definitely underline our top tip. For Red Bull Salzburg against AS Roma, the odds for both teams to score are recommended.
This bet was also correct last weekend, when the capital’s eleven only managed a meagre 1-1 draw at promoted Lecce. Roma have conceded 14 of their 19 goals this season away from home. A nil draw in the city of Mozart would be a big surprise in this respect.
Last matches played by AS Roma:
Serie A
11/02/2023 – Lecce 1 – 1 AS Roma
04/02/2023 – AS Roma 2 – 0 Empoli
Coppa Italia
02/02/2023 – AS Roma 1 – 2 Cremonese
Serie A
30/01/2023 – SSC Napoli 2 – 1 AS Roma
22/01/2023 – Spezia 0 – 2 AS Roma
Red Bull Salzburg – AS Roma Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
For the two clubs, this knockout clash represents a first, as the Bulls and the Romans have never faced each other before. Salzburg’s recent experience with Italian sides has not been positive, with the Bullen losing 4-0 to AC Milan on the last day of their CL group stage campaign to miss out on a place in the last 16. Roma’s last experience with red-white-red dates back to the 2019/20 season, when they only managed a draw against Wolfsberg twice.
Red Bull Salzburg – AS Roma Tip
The Bulls have been drawn in a highly attractive draw with the Romans, but they are considered underdogs. Salzburg have made a name for themselves on the international stage in recent years, but the bookmakers still see Mourinho’s charges as the favourites for the To Qualify between Red Bull Salzburg and AS Roma. However, the Jaissle eleven is not without chances and wants to nourish their hopes with a good result.
Salzburg are very strong at home, while Roma allow much more away from home than at the Olimpico. Accordingly, the Bullen must lead the way and turn possession into points. Roma is a tall order, but slight advantages can be found in favour of the Austrian champions, especially at Wals-Siezenheim. The betting odds do not reflect this, so a tip on the home side with a moderate four units stake is recommended between Red Bull Salzburg and AS Roma. Due to the defensive deficiencies, however, the bet “Both teams score” is also very interesting
