Roma v Leicester betting tips: Goals on the cards in Eternal City
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Preview, odds and Roma v Leicester betting tips
Leicester are just 90 minutes away from a first European final as they prepare to face Roma on Thursday night.
The Foxes dominated Jose Mourinho’s side for long spells last week, but their Europa Conference League semi-final first leg ended in a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium and they are 13/10 to qualify for the showpiece in Albania.
City are 5/2 underdogs to win in the Eternal City, so let’s look at some of the main talking points and odds to help with our Roma v Leicester betting tips.
Roma v Leicester form
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has made the Europa Conference League his priority after making eight changes for Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham.
That was Leicester’s fourth successive Premier League game without a win, a run which has resulted in them dropping into the lower half of the table.
However, with the likes of Jamie Vardy, Youri Tielemans, Wesley Fofana and Harvey Barnes all on the bench it’s clear that Rodgers is concentrating on winning this inaugural competition, one that he had not even heard of when they dropped out of the Europa League.
A 𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗘 night in Rome in prospect 🦊#RmaLei #UECL pic.twitter.com/3jKJpw2PIO
— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 3, 2022
Roma took the lead in the 15th minute with a well-worked move finished by Lorenzo Pellegrini, but Gianluca Mancini diverted Ademola Lookman’s cross into his own net midway through the second half to ensure honours were even heading into the second leg.
After the game Rodgers said: “We have no fear, we can go to Rome and play to that level. We have a fantastic chance to get to the final. We kept playing our football and the very least we deserved was 1-1. We can go with great confidence to Rome.
“I was so pleased with the performance. If you look at the squad and youthfulness of the team, to play at that level I was so pleased. We gave away a sloppy goal, we should defend the throw-in better, but I was so pleased with the team, the technical quality and how we imposed our style.”
"It was a poor game…"
🎙️ The boss gives his verdict on Sunday's draw.#ASRoma #RomaBologna pic.twitter.com/FaQbWuuqCn
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) May 2, 2022
The Romans start the match as 21/20 favourites as they look to end the season on a high after their hopes of finishing in the top four in Serie A ended at the weekend with a goalless draw against Bologna.
However, they remain in fifth place ahead of arch rivals Lazio because of their superior head-to-head record and are three points clear of seventh-placed Fiorentina, so are in pole position to qualify for the group stage of next season’s Europa League.
Roma have been strong at home in Serie A this season (W10 D5 L3), losing only to Milan, Inter and Juventus, and remain unbeaten in the Europa Conference League in front of their own fans.
Brendan Rodgers spoke to LCFC TV following the Foxes' 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/3ZP6RaZvYJ
— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 2, 2022
Another score draw is 13/4, and we go 9/1 on the hosts to win in extra time or Leicester are 12/1 in that market, the same price for both teams to come through in a penalty shoot-out.
Five of the hosts’ six home games have involved three or more goals and that option looks the way to go at 21/20 as one of our Roma v Leicester betting tips.
Roma v Leicester head to head
Last week’s game was the first meeting between the clubs in European competition, one which saw City lead the shot count 13-4, although both teams had two on target.
Tammy Abraham showed great strength and superb footwork to set up Sergio Oliveira 10 minutes from time only for Kasper Schmeichel to turn his fierce strike behind.
That would have been tough on the Foxes who were the better side and can be backed at 11/2 to win and concede at the Stadio Olimpico.
Goals in both halves was our main tip last week at 21/20 bearing in mind that’s been the case in 10 of Roma’s 13 matches in the Europa League and this competition and it’s now six from seven for City, so that looks a logical pick at 10/11.
Roma v Leicester team news
James Maddison and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are fit, having missed Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham but have travelled to Italy with the squad after shaking off hip and calf injuries respectively.
Jamie Vardy is available but Ryan Bertrand and Wilfred Ndidi (both knee) remain out while Nampalys Mendy is ineligible for the game.
Mourinho also rang the changes at the weekend when Abraham, Rick Karsdorp, Pellegrini and Nicola Zalewski were all rested, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan is almost certainly out after straining a muscle in his right leg in the first leg which is expected to keep him out for another couple of weeks.
Goalscorer odds
Former Chelsea striker Abraham leads the way in the first goalscorer odds at 4/1 having scored the second most goals in the Europa Conference League with eight.
Abraham is 9/5 to get on the scoresheet as he has done in his last three home games in this competition.
Nicolo Zainolo scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 win against Bodo/Glimt in the quarter-finals and is 7/1 and 14/5 in the two markets, while Pellegrini is 6/1 to get the ball rolling again or 13/5 to find the net in our Roma v Leicester betting tips.
“Our supporters always support us, in good and bad situations. They’re always there for us. We’ll keep going and keep giving them our best and hopefully we’ll get something for them on Thursday.” – Kelechi Iheanacho 💬
— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 2, 2022
Vardy is gradually building up his match fitness after an injury-hit few months and is 9/2 to draw first blood or 15/8 to score, while Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored at the weekend, is available at 13/2 and 13/5.
Ademola Lookman’s presence in the six-yard box forced Mancini into scoring the equaliser and he can be backed at 9/1 and 7/2, having started the first leg.
Maddison scored the equaliser in the 2-1 win at PSV in the quarter-finals and is 8/1 and 10/3 in the two markets.
Match Info
Where: Stadio Olimpico
When: 20:00, Thursday 5th May
How to watch: BT Sport
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
