Comments and predictions for Elfsborg vs AS Roma: Home team loses

Two teams looking for their first Europa League win this season will meet at the Boras Arena on Thursday, when Elfsborg host Roma in their second group game.

The hosts will be determined to claim their first home win in a major European competition since 1978, while the visitors will also be looking to improve their poor away record.

Latest Elfsborg vs AS Roma team information

Roma coach Ivan Juric is expected to make significant changes to his starting line-up, amid a busy fixture schedule ahead of this month's international break, with stars such as Paulo Dybala and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini likely to be rested.

Either way, neither is fully fit, while Gianluca Mancini could also miss out after picking up an injury against Venezia; his absence could give Mats Hummels a long-awaited debut.

Additionally, Mile Svilar could make way for reserve goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, and Uzbekistan striker Eldor Shomurodov could replace Artem Dovbyk in attack; only Alexis Saelemaekers is a definite absentee due to injury.

Elfsborg are expected to field a full-strength squad, with the exception of Sebastian Holmen, who was sent off against AZ and must serve a suspension.

Brothers Arber Zeneli and Besfort Zeneli will feature for the hosts, with Ghanaian striker Michael Baidoo leading the line. The player has six goals in the Europa League qualifiers.

Latest expected lineup for Elfsborg vs AS Roma

Elfsborg:

Pettersson; Larsson, Buhari, Yegbe; Hedlund, B. Zeneli, Ouma, Hult; A. Zeneli, Baidoo, Qasem

Roma:

Ryan; Hermoso, Hummels, Ndicka; Abdulhamid, Pisilli, Paredes, Angelino; Soule, Baldanzi; Shomorudov

Latest Elfsborg vs AS Roma football review

Following the surprise departure of Daniele De Rossi, Roma came close to claiming all the points in their Europa League opener last week, but were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Bilbao.

Artem Dovbyk scored the opener, helping Roma recoup a large chunk of his huge transfer fee, but the Giallorossi let their Basque opponents equalise in the last minute and could not hold on for the win.

They did, however, win both league games before and after this result, and new coach Ivan Juric has made an impressive start in difficult circumstances, with fan discontent boiling over after De Rossi's sacking.

After a 3-0 win over Serie A leaders Udinese, Roma scored twice in the final 20 minutes of a comeback win over Venezia on Sunday, to now sit ninth with nine points from six games.

Unbeaten in his last five games in all competitions, there are signs that his summer signings may be paying off, and after years of managing weak and mid-table sides, Juric is now keen to make his mark in Europe.

However, if Roma are to secure a top eight place in the Europa League, they will certainly have to start improving their poor away record: last season they won just two of their seven international away games.

In fact, before facing Swedish opponents for the first time since November 1999, the Giallorossi had won just three of their last 15 Europa League away games.

Precedent is also not on the home side's side's side's side's side's side on Thursday, with Elfsborg having lost four of their five games against Italian opposition - although they did win 1-0 against Roma's arch-rivals Lazio in a qualifying match 15 years ago.

The Boras-based club are back in European competition for the first time since being eliminated in the Europa League group stage in 2013, when they picked up just one point from their first five games.

While they could be aiming for a playoff spot this season, their group placement suggests a tough fight awaits: as well as facing Roma, they also face Tottenham Hotspur, Galatasaray, Nice and Athletic Club.

Coach Oscar Hiljemark saw his side muster just three shots in their opening day defeat to AZ Alkmaar, but they scored from two, with a combination between Timothy Ouma and Simon Hedlund helping the team score twice in a 3-2 away defeat.

At home this season, Elfsborg have recorded three wins and one defeat in four Europa League qualifying matches, despite facing weak opposition.

However, the club are fifth in Sweden's Allsvenskan, after last weekend's win over Kalmar, having won just one of 12 big games at the Boras Arena - and not since beating Strasbourg in the UEFA Cup in 1978-79.

Elfsborg vs AS Roma score prediction

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the results of the match Elfsborg vs AS Roma as follows:

• Sportsmole: Elfsborg 1-3 AS Roma

• WhoScore: Elfsborg 0-1 AS Roma
• Our prediction: Elfsborg 1-2 AS Roma

When and where to watch Elfsborg vs AS Roma live?

To watch live the match Elfsborg vs AS Roma Europa League taking place at 2:00 on October 4, viewers can watch on K+ Sport here or online sports channels. Wish viewers have fun watching football.

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