Porto – Roma

In the Porto vs Roma duel, it is extremely difficult to determine a favourite

For the rivals in one of the most notable Europa League clashes, the current round of the tournament has been rather difficult. Porto started the overall stage with a defeat to Budo/Glimt and a draw with Manchester United, who were still managed by Erik ten Hag. The Portuguese team secured the final eighteenth place by beating Maccabi Tel Aviv in the last round. Theoretically, Porto could have been left out of the play-offs altogether. The same can be said about Roma as it is about its upcoming opponent. The Romans also lost the penultimate round of the general stage, and also won the right to continue in the tournament on the results of the final meeting. Both clubs do not shine in their national arenas. The only difference is that Roma are performing quite poorly and deserve the status of no more than a mid-table Serie A side. Bookmakers have identified the home team as the favourites for the upcoming game, offering odds of 2.38 on their victory. Over the last couple of years Porto have given the status of the flagship of Portuguese football to their worst enemies - Benfica and Sporting. Last season, the Dragau hosts managed to finish only third, which deprived the club of the Champions League for the first time in many years. At the end of the 21st round of the current season, Porto share third place with Braga, four points behind Benfica. With thirteen rounds to go before the end of the season, it's too early for the team to lay their heads to rest and consider the second way to qualify for the next round of the Champions League - by winning the Europa League. In the last match Porto showed character and got back into the game on 90+4 minutes against the leading Sporting. Roma changed a couple of coaches at the beginning of the season and experienced a systemic crisis, including on the football field. After 24 rounds in Serie A, the Romans are 21 points behind the leader. It is already obvious that Ranieri's team will not reach the Champions League zone. In the current season, Roma is showing a unique away performance for a club of this level. It is tough to believe, but the victory over Udinese in Serie A on 26 January 2025 was the first away win for the Romans in the season that started on 18 August 2024. With stats like that, you can't expect to win at the Dragao.