Will Roma also score on the international stage?
“I am a special one” – Big words with which star coach Jose Mourinho once introduced himself to the equally gigantic Chelsea FC. The Portuguese coach fox was the most sought-after coach on this planet during the first decade of this millennium and even into the second.
But how do things look today? After a rather weak intermezzo at Tottenham, “Mou” is now coaching AS Roma, but has not yet made the big breakthrough with the team from the eternal city.
This is also shown by the fact that the Romans are once again competing in the Europa League this season. As last year’s finalists, the team around striker Lukaku is naturally one of the absolute favourites. An opening win therefore seems likely at first glance for Sheriff Tiraspol vs. AS Rome, but the odds on a triumph for the visitors are only around 1.50. Actually too little, we will look for other options. And maybe the first assessment is deceptive.
The start of the season has been anything but successful for Mourinho’s men, even though the team recently celebrated a resounding 7-0 victory over Empoli. Before that, they had gone three league games without a win, losing to AC Milan and even more bitterly to Verona.
So the Europa League should serve as another step in the right direction. After all, the season is still young and Mourinho wants to attack again in his third year in the city of the Colosseum. For the clash between Sheriff Tiraspol and AS Roma, bets on the “Both score – Yes” option are offering odds of just over 2.00. Perhaps a possibility, after all, Roma conceded two goals in each of their first three games of the season and only held the nil last time.
The hosts from Moldova are not only the underdogs at the betting shops on Thursday, but also quite soberly when you consider the quality of the squad. The home side have a market value of just under 13 million, while the Italians are close to 400 million.
The home side fought their way through the Europa League qualifying round after losing out to Haifa in the CL qualifiers. In the European Cup opener of the year, any point for coach Stejpan Tomas’ team would be a big surprise, and our Sheriff Tiraspol vs AS Roma predictions bring odds of around 6.50 on the minor sensation.
Kick-off for the hot duel is on Thursday at 18:45. In addition to the international matches, Germany’s football fans are of course also interested in the question of who will win the DFB Cup and what the odds look like.
Sheriff Tiraspol – Statistics & current form
This was a wild ride for the hosts! Coach Tomas Klaksvik’s side beat Itrottarfelag 2-1 in the second leg of their Euro League qualifier and can now compete in Europe’s second tier. With Prague, Rome and Geneva, the underdogs have landed in a lucrative group and naturally want to cause a surprise.
The toughest challenge on the way to the knockout round awaits the hosts right from the start. The most valuable player in the home side’s squad is the injured Rashid Akanbi. He would be the man with the lowest market value for the Romans.
Dominance in the league
On home soil, everything is going according to plan for the record champions so far, with the Sheriff side leading the table after five matchdays. Even though the title favourites have already suffered a defeat, 0:2 against Milsami Orhei.
Against the Romans, a festival match is now on the cards, and the underdogs will not let themselves be defeated in front of their home crowd. The Sheriff Tiraspol vs. AS Rome betting odds are extremely lucrative for a home win. They are a good deal above 6.00.
In their seventh appearance in Europe’s second-tier competition, this would of course be a worthy start. The team with the sheriff in its name even played in the Champions League once. The 2-1 away win at the Bernabeu against the great Real Madrid remains unforgotten.
The unique triumph made the team internationally famous, but in the end they only finished third in the group behind Inter Milan and Real. After that, they failed in the intermediate round of the Europa League by the narrowest of margins against Braga. Should they reach it again in the current group, it would be a huge success for the home side.
Predicted line-up of Sheriff Tiraspol:
FC Sheriff (Expected line-up) 4-1-4-1
AS Rome – Statistics & current form
Where is AS Roma heading this season? After finally celebrating another international title under the eccentric head coach Mourinho the year before last, the men from the capital remained titleless last season.
The lost Europa League final certainly still hurts, against Sevilla the Wolves only lost on penalties. Before that, Bayer 04 Leverkusen had been knocked out of the competition in a defensive battle. All in all, however, this defeat in the final should give the team a boost and get the last few energy reserves out of the players.
With Big Rom to success
A man who has changed clubs as often as others change their pants is expected to help. Romelu Lukaku undoubtedly has great qualities and should once again give wings to the Romans’ attack.
The Belgian elemental force has already been on the pitch twice for Mourinho, at Manchester United and Chelsea FC. With the Giallorossi, he could form a powerful attacking trio with Dybala and Abraham.
But in addition to the big name, another man from the Bundesliga has been signed for the attack: Sardar Azmoun! The striker failed to make an impact at Leverkusen and is now another option on Mourinho’s attacking keyboard.
On the last Serie A matchday, the Romans played really provocatively for the first time as they beat FC Empoli 7-0 at home in the Olimpico. Argentine Dybala scored twice and Lukaku also got on the scoresheet.
The first signal for the chase to catch up, after all, the co-favourites are still only in twelfth place in the league despite this resounding victory. Inter Milan is already eight points behind.
The next victory was supposed to follow in Moldova. The Sheriff Tiraspol vs. AS Roma betting odds offer a factor of around 1.50 for a Roman triumph. Too little to be seriously concerned with. The soon to be published odds on the first Bundesliga coach to be sacked could be more interesting.
Predicted line-up of AS Roma:
AS Roma (Expected line-up) 3-4-1-2
Sheriff Tiraspol – AS Roma Direct comparison / H2H balance
Who remembers the last meeting between Sheriff Tiraspol and AS Roma? Most likely no one, because there has never been a duel between the two teams in the long and glorious history of European football.
On Thursday, something historic will take place in this respect. By the way, in terms of championship titles, the hosts are far ahead of the team from Italy: with 21 championships, they are the clear record champions in Moldova! Coach Tomas’ team also won the double last season.
Sheriff Tiraspol – AS Roma Tip
It’s the international kick-off for all clubs on the European continent and our match has a crystal clear starting position. While the home side are the heavy underdogs, the Romans are one of the favourites for the title as last year’s finalists.
Nevertheless, anything is possible at the beginning of the competition. Rome do not seem to have consolidated their position yet and the hosts have already managed to cause a sensation or two in front of their home crowd in the witch’s cauldron of the Sheriff’s Stadium.
Mourinho could also spare a few regulars in the European Cup, as the coach knows that the important points in the group stage are taken at home. A draw could possibly be enough for the visitors and the odds on the “1X” option are still lucrative at over 2.50. We have found our Sheriff Tiraspol vs. AS Roma tip
While the Romans are struggling to get going this weekend, despite a liberation win, it’s the game of the year for the hosts. The Sheriff Stadium will be more than on fire and the home side will put everything into it.
In the still young season, the chances of a surprise seem quite high, and because the odds are then also right, we choose the possibility “1X” for our tip on Thursday.
