Tottenham Hosts Roma in Crucial Europa League Clash Amidst Injury Concerns and Form Fluctuations

Tottenham Hotspur is set to host AS Roma in a highly anticipated Europa League match on Thursday, November 28, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London. This encounter marks the first competitive fixture between the two teams and is crucial for both sides as they navigate the league phase of the competition.

Tottenham, under the management of Ange Postecoglou, comes into this match on the back of a resounding 4-0 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City. Despite this impressive win, Spurs have been inconsistent, having lost to Galatasaray in their last Europa League outing and suffering unexpected defeats in the Premier League, such as against Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace.

The match is complicated by several injuries for Tottenham. First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is out for at least six weeks after undergoing surgery for a fractured ankle. Centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are also sidelined, while Wilson Odobert, Richarlison, and Mikey Moore are out with various injuries. Will Lankshear is suspended following a red card against Galatasaray. Despite these absences, Rodrigo Bentancur is available for selection as his domestic ban does not apply to European games.

Roma, meanwhile, are struggling under new manager Claudio Ranieri, who returned from retirement to take the helm. The Italian side has had a disappointing season so far, sitting 12th in Serie A and 20th in the Europa League with just one win from their first four matches. Roma’s recent performance saw them lose 1-0 to Napoli, with former Roma striker Romelu Lukaku scoring the decisive goal. Roma have defensive concerns, with Mario Hermoso, Eldor Shomurodov, and Alexis Saelemaekers doubtful for the match.

The predicted lineups see Tottenham likely to field a 4-3-3 formation with Fraser Forster in goal, and a midfield trio of Bergvall, Bentancur, and Sarr. Roma, under Ranieri, may opt for a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Svilar in goal and Paulo Dybala potentially playing off striker Artem Dovbyk.

The match is expected to be closely contested, with Tottenham favored to win due to their home advantage and recent form. However, Roma’s defensive solidity in Europe and their need for points to stay in contention for the next round make them a formidable opponent).