Prediction: Tottenham vs Roma

Verdict: Tottenham win

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Luckster

Getting their Europa League campaign back underway on Thursday night, Tottenham will welcome Roma to north London.

Tottenham

Starting with the hosts, storming their way to what was a famous 4-0 romp away at Manchester City last weekend, Tottenham will be desperate to use that remarkable performance as a platform to build on. Heading into November’s international break with a shock 2-1 loss at the hands of Premier League returners Ipswich, Ange Postecoglou’s men have shown some extended inconsistencies since opening up the new campaign. Last seen in Europa League action falling to an action-packed 3-2 defeat away at Turkish giants Galatasaray, the former Celtic boss also knows the importance of finding some crucial stability at the back. Despite that sensational 4-0 win at the Etihad on Saturday evening, that is just the second clean sheet that Spurs have recorded from any of their last 10 matchups across all competitions.

Team News

Tottenham have confirmed that Argentina international Cristian Romero will not feature on Thursday night after sustaining an ankle injury. Likewise, still dealing with a thigh issue and not featuring over the past month, Micky van de Ven remains on the sidelines and will play no part in north London.

Despite being handed a seven-match domestic suspension last week, Uruguay international Rodrigo Bentancur is free to feature. Coming off the bench and finding the net away at Manchester City over the weekend, former Nottingham Forest ace Brennan Johnson could be handed a full recall.

Roma

As for the visitors, while Roma might have appointed Claudio Ranieri earlier in the month in an attempt to steady the ship, the Wolves find themselves at the heart of what has become a public crisis. Marking their return from November’s international break with a 1-0 loss away at Napoli over the weekend, the former Leicester boss certainly has a major job on his hands at the Stadio Olimpico. Coming under a huge amount of scrutiny this season, the Italian giants have collected just a single point from any of their previous four appearances across all competitions. Likewise, battling it out in the bottom-half of the Serie A standings, Roma have gained a real reputation for their glaring issues on the road. In fact, on what has become an infamous rut, Thursday’s guests have failed to record a single victory on their travels since the end of April.

Team News

Yet to make a single appearance across any competition since the middle of September, AC Milan loanee Alexis Saelemaekers remains on the sidelines with an ankle injury. Likewise, former Atletico Madrid Mario Hermoso is not expected to travel to north London on Thursday night.

However, returning from a knock and making a cameo appearance off the bench against Napoli last weekend, Paulo Dybala could make a first start since the end of October. Despite struggling to find much stability since arriving at the Stadio Olimpico, Artem Dovbyk should lead Roma’s charge.

Key Factors to Consider

• Thursday’s showdown in north London will be the first completive meeting between Tottenham and Roma.
• Tottenham’s remarkable 4-0 win away at Manchester City last weekend was just the second clean sheet that they have recorded from any of their last 10 appearances across all competitions.
• Roma have collected just a single point from any of their previous four appearances across all formats.
• The Wolves have won just a pair of their previous 10 appearances across all competitions.
• Roma have remarkably failed to muster a single victory away from the Stadio Olimpico since way back on April 25th.

Conclusion

Storming their way to what was an iconic 4-0 romp away at Manchester City last weekend, Tottenham will be desperately seeking a repeat performance here. Winning three of their four Europa League showdowns so far this season, Spurs will be confident of collecting another heavyweight scalp in midweek. Meeting a Roma squad that find themselves at the heart of a public crisis, the Italian giants have also gained a real reputation for their glaring issues on the road.

Verdict: Tottenham win

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Luckster