CSKA Sofia vs Roma Predictions

• CSKA Sofia have lost four of five games in the competition, scoring just one goal and conceding 10.
• Half of CSKA Sofia’s goals conceded came at the hands of Roma, who hammered them 5-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.
• Despite a poor run of form, Jose Mourinho’s team have the fourth best attack in Serie A according to expected goals, and need a win to have a chance of topping Group C.

Norwegian Slip-ups mean Roma Need to Win

Jose Mourinho’s Roma have been a mixed bag in recent weeks. Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Inter was their fourth defeat in six Serie A games, leaving them a long way short of the top four. In Europe, a draw and loss to Norway’s Bodo/Glimt means Roma must beat CSKA Sofia to have any chance of finishing first in Group C and skipping February’s round of 32, although they’ll also need a favour from Ukrainian side Zorya.

CSKA Sofia have already finished bottom after losing four and drawing one of their matches. They failed to score in home games against Bodo/Glimt and Zorya, and though they did find the net early on in Rome, they promptly shipped five goals in what remains Mourinho’s biggest win at the helm.

With Roma’s top four push faltering and Mourinho speaking openly of the importance of challenging for the Europa Conference League trophy, the special one will do everything in his power to top the group. The likes of Tammy Abraham, who missed the loss to Inter through suspension, and Stefan El Shaarawy, who has four goals in this competition already, are likely to feature in a strong visiting team.

Comfortable Evening in Store for Roma?

Roma have not exactly been the archetypal Mourinho team this season, boasting Serie A’s fourth-best record for expected goals created but losing a number of big games against rivals, including to Juventus, Lazio, Inter, and AC Milan. A date with Group C’s whipping boys should mean, however, that they give themselves a chance of securing that all-important top spot.

Roma have averaged three goals per game in this group so far, and the price for them to beat a -1 handicap seems generous, given their dominant win in the return fixture. As a result, backing the Giallorossi to enjoy a comfortable win seems wise, with a repeat of their 3-0 away win at Zorya looking a strong correct score prediction.