Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
The first leg between Roma and Porto (1:1) delivered an intense battle, worthy of the Champions League. Both teams aim to progress at least to the Europa League quarter-finals, and given how closely matched they are, a cautious, defensive approach is expected at the Stadio Olimpico.
AS Roma
Since mid-December, Roma has suffered only two defeats, including last week’s draw in Portugal. In that game, they controlled the first half (0.86–0.11 in xG) but lost their attacking rhythm after Paulo Dybala’s substitution. For the second leg, Dybala remains a doubt, while Alexis Saelemaekers and Bryan Cristante are suspended. This will limit Roma’s attacking options, making a counter-attacking strategy—similar to their 1:0 weekend win over Parma—the most likely approach.
Porto
Porto have recorded under 2.5 goals in 8 of their last 10 matches. The winter departures of Wenderson Galeno and Nico González have weakened Porto’s creative play, and top striker Francisco Evanilson has not scored since January. Expect Porto to mirror Roma’s three-man defence and focus on defensive solidity rather than pushing forward aggressively.
AS Roma vs Porto Prediction
This match is unlikely to be a high-scoring affair. Both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first leg, and with Roma missing key attacking players and Porto lacking firepower, another tight, low-scoring contest is expected.
