Viktoria Plzen vs Roma Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Viktoria Plzen haven’t made the best of starts to their Czech Liga defence this season. They kicked things off with a narrow away goals win over Qarabag in the Champions League qualifiers, which later came to nothing as Ludogorets eliminated them from the competition with a 4-2 aggregate win.

In the league they’ve already played six games since the beginning in the middle of July, but after an opening day win, they’ve won three, drawn one and lost one more. This puts them in a disappointing 3rd in the table behind Zlin and Sparta Prague.

Now Viktoria Plzen’s attentions turn towards the Europa League, where they will be hoping to get over their failed group stage exploits last season and reproduce the form that took them all the way to the Round of 16 in the 2013/14 season. It certainly won’t be an easy ride for them though, with Roma being clear favourites for the group top spot and Austria Vienna and Astra both providing tough competition for the remaining qualification spot as well.

Roma will be bitterly disappointed to be in this competition instead of the elite Champions League. Their 3rd place finish in Serie A last season granted them a spot in the Champions League playoffs, but they drew one of the toughest sides in the competition in Porto. The away leg ended 1-1 and Roma looked to be in a good position to take it back to Rome and make it to the group stages. However, an early goal from the visitors was followed by a red card either side of half-time for Daniele De Rossi and Emerson. With the hosts reduced to nine men their chances of getting an equaliser were severely diminished, and in the end ,Porto bagged another two goals to seal the deal.

This was a major disappointment for the Italians at the beginning of the season, and their loss of Adem Ljajic, Dodo and Miralem Pjanic will have hit them hard as well. They have brought in Gerson on a permanent deal as well as the likes of Mohamed Salah, Stephan El Shaarawy, Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti though.

Serie A has started in a decent way as well. They beat Udinese 4-0 in their league opener before being held to a draw at Cagliari. A last minute penalty from club legend Francesco Totti sealed all three points against Sampdoria at the weekend as well, and that 3-2 victory means there have been 18 goals in their five competitive matches so far this season.

All but one of these matches have seen at least three goals scored in them, whilst Viktoria Plzen have seen Over 2.5 goals in each of their last three outings as well. I think Roma’s attacking style of play and their numerous defensive injuries and suspensions will make this a high scoring game, and odds of 9/10 for Over 2.5 Goals looks good to me. I’m going for a 2-1 win for Roma for my correct score prediction as well.