RB Salzburg and Roma meet each other for the first time in European football as the Red Bull Arena forms the backdrop for the first leg of their Europa League knockout playoffs tie.
Salzburg’s thoroughly underwhelming Champions League group-stage campaign (W1, D3, L2), culminating with back-to-back defeats, resulted in a ninth appearance in the Europa League knockouts. A lack of match fitness could hinder Salzburg’s bid to avenge a 4-0 loss at Roma’s fellow Serie A rivals AC Milan in their last European outing and improve on their dreadful all-time UEFA record against Italian opponents (W5, D4, L11). Indeed, ‘Die Roten Bullen’ returned to action earlier in February with an underwhelming Austrian Cup quarter-final elimination to Sturm Graz before toppling Austria Lustenau 4-0 at home last weekend. That triumph may bolster Salzburg’s hopes of halting a four-game winless run in European competitions (D1, L3), their longest streak without winning in continental action since 2016.
On the other hand, Roma had to thank a come-from-behind 3-1 romping of Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets on the final matchday for securing a runner-up finish in Europa League Group C behind Real Betis. Despite registering a paltry win ratio of 50% across their six group fixtures (W3, D1, L2), ‘I Giallorossi’ have reached the Europa League knockouts for the third time in four years, making it out of this round in their last four attempts. Esteemed manager Jose Mourinho, who led Manchester United to the Europa League title in 2016/16, will aim high after helping Roma to a historic Europa Conference League triumph last term. Adding to his confidence, the Italians have found the net in 33 consecutive European matches in the lead-up to this trip. Moreover, they’ve not lost any of their six previous European clashes against Austrian opposition (W3, D3).
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