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Roma logo
Europa League | Group Stage
Nov 5, 2020 at 5.55pm UK
Stadio Olimpico
CFR Cluj

Roma
5 - 0
CFR Cluj

Mkhitaryan (2'), Ibanez (24'), Mayoral (34', 84'), Pedro (89')
FT(HT: 3-0)

Hoban (61'), Carnat (81')

Preview: Roma vs. CFR Cluj - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Roma and CFR Cluj, including prediction, team news and possible lineups.

Thursday's Europa League Group A clash between Roma and CFR Cluj sees both clubs handily placed to progress - on four points each - at the top of the standings.

While the Serie A side were held to a 0-0 home draw against CSKA Sofia after their win at Young Boys, the Romanian champions took a point at home to the Swiss side following opening night success in Sofia.


Match preview

CFR Cluj players celebrate scoring against Young Boys in October 2020© Reuters

For Cluj, Mario Rondon's second goal in as many games proved insufficient for all three points as the visitors from Berne equalised soon after to record a welcome 1-1 draw.

They then faltered badly at the weekend, losing 2-1 at home to unfancied Gaz Metan - a result which leaves them third in the table, six points adrift of top spot.

Nonetheless, the Transylvanian team's fans will have fond memories of their first meeting with Roma in 2008, as it was the club's very first Champions League fixture, in which they surprisingly defeated the Giallorossi 2-1 at Stadio Olimpico.

While Cluj have scored in all four previous matches played against Thursday's opposition, they have returned to Italy three times since that startling debut and lost each and every game - including 1-0 at the Olimpico against Roma's bitter rivals Lazio last season. Dan Petrescu's side have also lost six of their nine away fixtures in the Europa League post-qualification stages.

However, the domestically dominant Romanian club - who completed a hat-trick of league titles in the summer - are far from pushovers at this level.

Last term, the Railwaymen enjoyed a club record 16-match European journey that first built up steam in the Champions League first qualifying round and only hit the buffers in the Europa League last 32, where they narrowly went out to eventual winners Sevilla on the away goals rule.

Roma head coach Paulo Fonseca pictured in October 2020© Reuters

Thursday night's hosts, though, have a particularly intimidating recent record.

Roma have only lost one of their previous 16 European fixtures in the Italian capital - winning 11 - and that was to Real Madrid. Not only that, but they remain unbeaten at home in the brief but growing history of the Europa League group stage.

Domestically, the Giallorossi are now five points behind league leaders AC Milan in eighth place after a comprehensive 2-0 win over Fiorentina at the weekend - the dominance of which was scarcely represented by the scoreline. That provides the perfect platform for Paulo Fonseca's men to take on a potentially tricky tie.

The Portuguese coach rewarded his players with a day off to recuperate ahead of Thursday's game and will expect a similarly convincing performance from his second-string side. Fringe players such as Borja Mayoral, Gonzalo Villar and Federico Fazio will again need to step seamlessly into the lineup as Roma continue to negotiate a hectic pre-Christmas schedule.

Roma Europa League form: WD
Roma form (all competitions): WWWDDW

CFR Cluj Europa League form: WD
CFR Cluj form (all competitions): DWWWDL


Team News

Chris Smalling warms up for Roma on February 27, 2020© Reuters

Roma winger - and Europa League regular so far - Carles Perez has suffered a left thigh strain and is now likely to miss Thursday's encounter, along with Amadou Diawara and defender Davide Santon.

Coach Fonseca is also without the suspended Gianluca Mancini for this game, with Chris Smalling likely to be rested too, so Marash Kumbulla will step into defence alongside Brazilian centre-back Roger Ibanez.

Borja Mayoral is again set to lead the line, with Edin Dzeko available on the bench in event of emergencies.

Cluj coach Petrescu has a near fully-fit squad to choose from, having rotated heavily for their weekend reverse in the Romanian league.

Former Anderlecht forward Alexandru Chipciu can be utilised as a 'false nine', but Croatian striker Gabriel Debeljuh - who has had Italian experience with Piacenza in the past - is favoured to start up front in a 4-2-3-1.

A back-to-back goalscorer in Europe, well-travelled veteran Mario Rondon will start behind Debeljuh, while talented ex-Marseille man Billel Omrani can provide a second-half threat from the bench.

Roma possible starting lineup:
Lopez; Fazio, Ibanez, Jesus; Peres, Cristante, Villar, Spinazzola; Mkhitaryan, Pedro; Mayoral

CFR Cluj possible starting lineup:
Balgradean; Susic, Vinicius, Burca, Camora; Hoban, Djokovic; Rondon, Paun, Deac; Debeljuh


SM words green background

We say: Roma 2-1 CFR Cluj

Not a straightforward encounter for the Giallorossi, but a significant opportunity to strike out ahead of their opponents in Group A.

Cluj fans have fond memories of the Olimpico, but Thursday's clash is more likely to be reminiscent of their most recent forays to Italy - returning home pointless - as the Romanian champions lack the individual quality to cope with Roma's experienced continental campaigners.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data

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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Roma win with a probability of 51.16%. A draw had a probability of 28.8% and a win for CFR Cluj had a probability of 20.07%.

The most likely scoreline for a Roma win was 1-0 with a probability of 17.45%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (11.44%) and 2-1 (8.07%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 0-0 (13.3%), while for a CFR Cluj win it was 0-1 (9.38%). The actual scoreline of 5-0 was predicted with a 0.4% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Roma would win this match.


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Group A

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QWest Ham650115
QFreiburg640212
3Olympiacos62137
4Backa Topola60151

Group B

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QBrighton641113
QMarseille632111
3Ajax61235
4AEK Athens61144

Group C

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QRangers632111
QSparta Prague631210
3Betis63039
4Aris Limassol61144

Group D

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QAtalanta642014
QSporting Lisbon632111
3Sturm Graz61144
4Rakow61144

Group E

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QLiverpool640212
QToulouse632111
3Union SG62228
4LASK61053

Group F

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QVillarreal641113
QRennes640212
3M. Haifa61235
4Panathinaikos61144

Group G

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QSlavia Prague650115
QRoma641113
3Servette61235
4Sheriff Tiraspol60151

Group H

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QB. Leverkusen660018
QQarabag631210
3Molde62137
4Hacken60060


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