Preview: HJK Helsinki vs. Roma - prediction, team news, lineups

Three of the Giallorossi's haul to date came from last month's reverse fixture in the Italian capital, when the visitors went down to 10 men early on and ultimately lost 3-0.

Match preview

As a result of a sluggish start to their Europa League campaign, Roma are in dire need of maximum points this week, as they will be unable to finish in Group C's top two if they lose and second-placed Ludogorets avoid defeat against a Real Betis side that have already qualified.

They will be confirmed in third place and return to the Europa Conference League via its playoff round, should they only draw and the Bulgarian champions win, and while Jose Mourinho's men have fond memories of Europe's third-tier competition, as its inaugural winners in May, they have no wish to take a step down in class this term.

Still boasting a perfect record, Betis arrived in Rome earlier this month, leading their hosts by three points at the halfway stage, and victory for the Seville side saw them go further clear at the top before a draw in the reverse fixture kept Roma at arm's length.

After losing late on at Stadio Olimpico - their first home defeat in Europe for 20 matches - an Andrea Belotti equaliser in Andalucia offered the Giallorossi hope of victory, but they ultimately had to settle for a 1-1 draw, which allowed Ludogorets to sneak up on the rails.

Preparation for their penultimate fixture did not go entirely to plan, as Sunday night's Derby del Sole against Napoli saw Roma slip seven points adrift of the Serie A leaders following a 1-0 defeat at the Olimpico - Victor Osimhen scoring a stunning late winner for the visitors.

Though still fifth in the Italian top flight, with seven wins from their first 11 games, Mourinho's side were also leapfrogged by bitter foes Lazio after failing to muster a single shot on target. Furthermore, before travelling to Helsinki this week, they are winless in four European away games, representing their worst such run for three years.

Roma have, though, scored in each of their last 31 continental contests - netting 68 goals in total since failing to register against CSKA Sofia in late 2020 - and they still pose a threat in the final third despite the lamented absence of mercurial maestro Paulo Dybala.

Once defensive rock and club captain Miro Tenho received a red card after just 14 minutes when these sides met in Rome, HJK Helsinki found themselves swept aside in September, as their hosts fired in 29 shots on the way to a 3-0 win - with Dybala opening the scoring.

HJK have now lost six of their seven meetings with Italian sides in European competitions and are winless in five Europa League matches - four of which have been played this autumn.

Having taken just one point from back-to-back games against Ludogorets - the most recent being a 1-1 home draw, secured by Perparim Hetemaj's second-half equaliser - they cannot finish in Group C's top two but can still finish third and reach the Conference League playoffs.

To stay in with a chance, they must win on Thursday, though, as failure to do so would ensure a negative head-to-head record versus Roma. In any case, the Finnish champions face Betis on the final matchday and are unlikely to prevail at Benito Villamarin.

While HJK's most recent result was a 1-0 reverse to KuPS earlier this month, Toni Koskela's side had already clinched their third consecutive league title, and the club's 32nd overall. Domestic dominance seems assured, but competing in the Europa League has - until now - proved a bridge too far.

HJK Helsinki Europa League form:

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D

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D

L

HJK Helsinki form (all competitions):

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W

D

W

L

L

Roma Europa League form:

L

W

L

D

Roma form (all competitions):

W

L

W

D

W

L

Team News

After missing out on the chance to win four league games in a row for the first time under Jose Mourinho, Roma are set to make several changes to their lineup in midweek.

However, with the synthetic grass at HJK's Bolt Arena in mind - midfield duo Nemanja Matic and Lorenzo Pellegrini are both struggling with minor injuries - Mady Camara should keep his place; making his third straight start after a spell of adaptation since signing in the summer.

Injured talisman Paulo Dybala has scored seven of Roma's last 16 goals but is out through until at least next month, while his erstwhile strike partner Tammy Abraham - the Giallorossi's top scorer en route to their Conference League triumph last term - is suffering a crisis of confidence. Having managed one shot and completed just nine passes in Sunday's loss to Napoli, the England striker could make way for Andrea Belotti, but with Nicolo Zaniolo still suspended, Mourinho may ask him to play on.

The hosts also have Nicola Zalewski back in the fold following a bout of flu, and the versatile 20-year-old will play on the right flank of the hosts' 3-4-1-2 formation, in place of Rick Karsdorp, who left Stadio Olimpico with ice strapped to a knee which has only recently been operated on.

As for HJK, last time out, captain Miro Tenho returned from the suspension handed down for his red card at Stadio Olimpico, but fellow defender Jukka Raitala must now serve a ban for his late dismissal against Ludogorets.

Veteran midfielder Perparim Hetemaj - who scored the equaliser in their last Europa League home match - enjoyed a decade in Italy with several smaller clubs and is likely to feature in support of Santeri Hostikka and Malik Abubakari, who should join forces up front.

On loan from Celtic this season, Northern Ireland goalkeeper Conor Hazard is the hosts' last line of defence.

HJK Helsinki possible starting lineup:

Hazard; Hoskonen, Tenho, Peltola; Soiri, Hetemaj, Lingman, Vaananen, Browne; Hostikka, Abubakari

Roma possible starting lineup:

Patricio; Kumbulla, Mancini, Ibanez; Zalewski, Cristante, Camara, Vina; El Shaarawy; Belotti, Abraham

We say: HJK Helsinki 0-1 Roma

In cold conditions, on an artificial pitch, injury-hit Roma are not likely to hit top form following a few unconvincing performances.

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