We look ahead to Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash with our Man Utd vs Roma prediction and preview. Can United defy grim domestic form to beat visitors still undefeated in Serie A?
Man Utd vs Roma: The Key Stats
Though their last win dates back to September, the Opta supercomputer still fancies Manchester United, giving them a 40.9% chance of victory over Roma.
Perhaps that’s due to Roma winning just two of their last 20 Champions League away games (D6 L12); they have a 34.5% chance of success.
Following the recent debacle in Como, Man Utd have lost seven of their last 10 Champions League games (W2 D1). That represents the Red Devils’ worst ever run.
With their slump reaching new depths, Manchester United must try to pick up some precious Champions League points when free-scoring Roma visit Old Trafford on Tuesday.
It seems everyone is keen to have their say on Man Utd’s latest crisis, but the stark facts speak for themselves.
Sparking talk of a relegation fight, the fallen giants have taken just seven points from nine Premier League games this season, failing to even score in four.
Dating back to mid-September, United are winless in nine across all competitions (D3 L6), and that’s their longest such run for 42 years.
After Lisandro Martínez was dismissed for his second booking on Saturday, the Red Devils inevitably slumped to defeat at Chelsea, losing 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
United’s only wins this season have come against promoted Ipswich Town and Azerbaijan’s Sabah, relative minnows in Champions League terms.
After the latter result got United off the mark in this season’s UCL, they subsequently lost 2-0 to Atlético Madrid before being mauled by European newcomers Como.
Como vs Man Utd xG race
Como vs Man Utd xG race
Their dismal 4-1 defeat at Stadio Sinigaglia left United 21st in the Champions League table, and only the top 24 will progress beyond the league phase. Their next opponents are one point ahead in 15th.
Responding to a late implosion that cost them victory over Real Madrid, when they conceded three times in the final eight minutes to lose 4-3, Roma were emphatic winners last time out.
Admittedly, their visitors were only Slovan Bratislava, but two goals in either half secured the Giallorossi’s first Champions League success since 2019.
Roma finally booked their return to the top table by finishing third in Serie A last term, capping an impressive first year for former Europa League winner Gian Piero Gasperini.
This season his team are unbeaten in Italy’s top flight, claiming draws against potential title rivals Inter, Napoli and Como as well as seven wins.
Stretching back several months, Roma are undefeated in 17 top-flight fixtures, most recently smashing fast-sinking Udinese 5-2 on Saturday, when they went four goals up before half-time.
Now just behind old foes and surprise early leaders Lazio – and reigning champions Inter – Roma could be eyeing their first Scudetto for 26 years.
Roma have racked up 21 goals in six games since hanging on for a 0-0 draw with Como after Donyell Malen was sent off, and 14 different players have already scored in the current campaign.
However, history is not on Roma’s side ahead of Tuesday’s game. They’ve failed to win on any of their last 16 trips to England (D6 L10), and they’ve conceded in their last 32 Champions League away games, the longest run by any team in Europe’s top competition.
Assuming United’s misfiring attack can extend that to 33, the Giallorossi may need Malen to continue his red-hot form.
The Dutch forward is Serie A’s top scorer for the calendar year, including eight goals from 10 games this term. In the Champions League, he’s one of only five players with at least five goal involvements and has recorded the joint-most touches inside the opposition’s box (26).
Malen’s preferred partner is Paulo Dybala, with the pair striking up an intuitive understanding, but a familiar muscular problem could rule the Argentinian out.
France star Manu Kone and first-choice goalkeeper Mile Svilar are definitely unavailable, while Man Utd’s main miss is Benjamin Šeško.
Man Utd vs Roma Head-to-Head
Manchester United and Roma have met on eight prior occasions, with the Red Devils winning five times (D1 L2).
Although the Italian side prevailed in the most recent meeting – 3-2 in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals in May 2021 – they lost that tie 8-5 on aggregate.
The English club have won all four clashes at Old Trafford, which is their joint-best 100% home record in major European competition (also 4/4 vs Anderlecht).
Notably, Michael Carrick came up against Roma six times in the Champions League during his playing days, scoring twice in United’s 7-1 quarter-final second-leg triumph in 2007.
Man Utd vs Roma Prediction
According to the Opta supercomputer, Manchester United are favourites: the hosts beat Roma in 40.9% of its 10,000 pre-match simulations.
According to the Opta supercomputer, Manchester United are favourites: the hosts beat Roma in 40.9% of its 10,000 pre-match simulations.
According to the Opta supercomputer, Manchester United are favourites: the hosts won 40.9% of its 10,000 pre-match simulations.
Meanwhile, Roma succeeded in 34.8%, and a draw accounted for the remaining 24.3%.
Manchester United vs Roma Predicted Lineups
Manchester United: Senne Lammens, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Diogo Dalot, Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo.
Roma: Pierluigi Gollini, Gianluca Mancini, Evan Ndicka, Mario Hermoso, Emanuele Lulli, Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Wesley, Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro.
Ad 1 – Opta Live- v1
Ad 1 – Opta Live- v1
Opta Power Rankings
The Opta Power Rankings are a global team ranking system that assigns an ability score to over 13,000 domestic football teams on a scale between zero and 100, where zero is the worst-ranked team in the world, and 100 is the best team in the world.
Ahead of kick-off this weekend, here is the Opta Power Ranking for both sides.
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UEFA Champions League Opta Stats
UEFA Champions League Opta Stats