Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction & Match Preview

Steffen Schmidt - March 9, 2021

Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk
UEFA Europa League
Date: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Kick-Off at 20.00 UK
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome.

Shakhtar Donetsk have eliminated Italian giants Inter Milan out of the UEFA Champions League by holding them to a goalless draw in the last round’s fixture at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Such a result has pushed the Ukrainians to the Europa League knockout phase.

The last 16 round draw has put them together with another Italian outfit. The team led by Luis Castro will travel to Italian capital to take on Roma in the first leg of the R16 clash on Thursday evening at Stadio Olimpico.

Roma go into the match as favourites despite being without the talismanic striker Edin Dzeko (out through injury). His replacement, Borja Mayoral, has been the team’s top scorer in this term of the Europa League with five goals. The Spaniard also notched 6 more in 20 Serie A outings this season and he will be the main threat to Shakhtar’s goal on the occasion.

Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk Head-to-head

• Roma have a negative head to head record with the Miners. Shakhtar won four and lost two of six meetings with La Lupa.
• It’s been three years since the two sides have last locked horns. Back then, Roma advanced into the UEFA Champions League quarter-final by eliminating the Ukrainians on the away goal rule (2-2 on aggregate).
• Three of the last four H2H clashes between the two outfits saw three or more goals scored.

Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction

Looking at the teams’ recent results, we can’t quite expect a goal fest at Stadio Olimpico. Roma, who have never won any continental competition, edged past Genoa 1-0 on Sunday, while Shakhtar saw off Olimpik Donetsk with the identical scoreline in their weekend’s domestic tie. The Miners have played seven official matches since the winter break and none of these games has produced three or more goals.

Castro’s strikers have been struggling for goals lately. They even got eliminated out of the Ukrainian Cup by falling 1-0 at lower-division Ahrobiznes Volochysk. Luis Castro can be much more satisfied with his team’s defensive performances. The Miners kept their net untouched in a 3-0 aggregate victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the R32.

Roma are still favourites to snatch the victory in the first leg on the home patch and we will back them to win to nil at the odds of 3.00, while the second bet is Under 2.5 goals FT at the odds of 2.30.

Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk Betting Tips

• Roma to win to nil @ 3.00

• Under 2.5 goals FT @ 2.30.

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