Elfsborg and AS Roma continue their challenging start in the Europa League group stage with a head-to-head clash. In the previous round, both the Swedish and Italian sides fell short of securing their first wins. However, in Borås, AS Roma, with their star-studded roster, are more likely to claim points.
In Alkmaar, Elfsborg suffered a disappointing slip-up against AZ Alkmaar (2:3), with individual skill playing a pivotal role, as the Dutch side proved superior. It's worth noting the contribution of Kenyan midfielder Timothy Ouma, who recorded 1+1, but prior to the match against AZ, he managed just 1+2 in 17 Swedish league games—a scoring surge unlikely to repeat against a top-tier opponent. Additionally, Elfsborg’s defence will have a gap due to Sebastian Holmén's suspension (red card).
Since Ivan Jurić took the helm at AS Roma, they have won two out of three matches. Over the weekend against Venezia (2:1), the team secured victory thanks to substitutions—Niccolò Pisilli and Leandro Paredes came off the bench to score the decisive goal, reinforcing their dominance in chances created (22-18 in shots). At the Stadio Olimpico against Athletic Bilbao (1:1), Paulo Dybala played upfront alongside Artem Dovbyk, a combination Jurić might opt to revisit in attack.
Even without injured players Enzo Le Fée and Alexis Saelemaekers, AS Roma's class should see them overcome Elfsborg. The Romans' status demands that they aim to climb into the top eight of the tournament standings.
