Feyenoord vs Roma Predictions

• Feyenoord have won six of their last eight home European games
• Roma have won only one of their last eight European away games, drawing four and losing three
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in seven of Roma’s last eight Europa League road games, including last season’s final

Dutch delight on the cards at De Kuip

Feyenoord are fancied to block Roma’s road to a second consecutive Europa League Final when the Dutch champions play host to last season’s beaten finalists in Thursday’s play-off round first leg at the De Kuip.

The Rotterdam club beat Roma 1-0 in the first leg of last season’s quarter-final and were on course to go through until Paulo Dybala’s 89th-minute goal took the tie into extra time at the Olimpico. Jose Mourinho, who also masterminded the Serie A side’s 1-0 triumph over Feyenoord in the inaugural Europa Conference League Final the season before, is no longer on the Roman bench with Daniele De Rossi now in charge.

It remains to be seen if the Italian can find the right formula to overcome Arne Slot’s team, who beat Celtic and Lazio at home in this season’s Champions League group phase. Feyenoord have won six of their last eight home European games and will have no fear of a Roma side that have lost three and drawn four of their last eight road games in this competition.

Goals at a premium in first leg

De Rossi’s outfit are coming off a 4-2 home mauling at the hands of Scudetto-chasing Inter and had lost four straight away games until a nervy 2-1 win at struggling Salernitana last month.

Nonetheless, this opening leg could be a tight affair with goals at a premium if last year’s competition is anything to go by. Fourteen of the 22 first legs, including all six featuring these two clubs, featured two strikes or fewer in the knockout phase.

Fewer than three goals have been scored in Feyenoord’s last five games in all competitions and seven of Roma’s last 11 away games too.