BETTING GUIDE: AS Roma Vs Lille, match preview, team news and betting guide
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Reading Time: 5min | Wed. 01.10.25. | 19:14
Despite Lille’s explosive attacking numbers, Roma’s elite defensive setup and the low-scoring nature of their matches suggest this won’t be a goal-fest
After a commanding start under new manager Gian Piero Gasperini, AS Roma welcomes French outfit Lille to the Stadio Olimpico in what promises to be a tightly-contested UEFA Europa League (UEL) showdown.
Following a gritty 2-1 away win over Nice on Matchday 1, the Giallorossi will be confident of continuing their fine form on home soil against a Lille side still licking its wounds after a poor domestic run.
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This Group Stage clash will be the first-ever competitive meeting between the clubs, although they did face off in a 2019 friendly that Roma edged 3-2.
Both teams are chasing early qualification; thus, we should expect a high-stakes battle in the Eternal City.
Last season, Roma narrowly missed out on a top-four finish in Serie A, prompting the retirement of veteran coach Claudio Ranieri.
His successor, Gian Piero Gasperini, appears to have hit the ground running.
Roma have won five of their six matches this season, including their UEL opener away at Nice and a solid 2-0 home victory over Hellas Verona in Serie A last weekend.
This early form has carried over from the tail end of the previous campaign, with the Romans winning 10 of their last 12 competitive matches overall (L2).
Gasperini has injected intensity into the side, shifting to a flexible 3-4-1-2 or 3-4-3 setup, with wide players pushing up to support quick transitions and compact defending in midfield.
Roma have also built a fortress-like defence. With just one goal conceded in Serie A so far and four clean sheets from their opening six matches, the Giallorossi are among the most defensively solid teams in Europe this season.
Goalkeeper Mile Svilar has been exceptional, boasting a 92.9% save percentage and 13 saves, proving a vital part of the club’s backline security.
Paulo Dybala, however, remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, and summer signing Leon Bailey is still a doubt.
Nonetheless, Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk have really stepped up in attack, with the latter having scored the opener in Roma’s last match.
Lille’s domestic form paints a mixed picture.
The French side started the Ligue 1 season brightly with a 3-3 draw against Brest, followed by three wins.
However, things have gone off the rails recently with consecutive 3-0, 1-0 losses to Lens and Lyon respectively.
In Europe, though, they claimed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Brann on Matchday 1 of the UEL. Forward Hamza Igamane scored the winner, continuing his record of scoring all his last eight goals after half-time.
The stats reflect a tale of two ends for Lille: they’ve scored 13 goals in Ligue 1, boasting the highest xG in the league (13.4), with an impressive average of 2.24 xG per 90 minutes.
However, they’ve also conceded 9.2 xGA - the highest xGA in Ligue 1 - and are leaking goals at a worrying rate of 1.54 per 90.
Tiago Santos is a doubt for this clash after limping off against Lyon.
Lille manager Paulo Fonseca (coincidentally a former Roma boss) will be concerned about his side's away form: just three wins in their last 16 Europa League away games (D5, L8), and only three victories in their last ten competitive road trips.
Roma are expected to stick with their now-familiar 3-4-3 formation, designed for balance and defensive solidity.
Mile Svilar continues in goal, protected by a back three of Ndicka, Mancini, and Celik - players who have all contributed to Roma’s impressive defensive record this season.
On the flanks, Angelino and Wesley Franca provide width and are crucial in both buildup play and tracking back during transitions.
In midfield, the experienced Bryan Cristante pairs with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manu Kone to dictate tempo and cover space.
Up front, Artem Dovbyk or Evan Ferguson will be tasked to lead the line alongside Matias Soulé, who adds flair and movement in the final third.
Lille, on the other hand, will likely opt for a 4-2-3-1 setup.
Berke Ozer is expected to start in goal, with a backline of Perraud, Alessandro, Ngoy, and Mandi, a group that has shown vulnerability in recent weeks.
Benjamin André will anchor the midfield alongside Bouaddi, forming a double pivot tasked with shielding the defense and initiating transitions.
Ahead of them, the trio of Felix Correia, Mukau, and Fernandez Pardo will look to provide creativity and width behind the seasoned Olivier Giroud, whose physicality and positioning remain major threats in and around the box.
This matchup may ultimately hinge on two critical tactical battles.
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First, Roma's defensive organisation against Lille’s high-volume attacking play.
While Lille have the capacity to generate numerous chances per game, Roma’s defensive line has proven incredibly disciplined, rarely offering their opponents space or clear-cut opportunities.
Second, the midfield transitions will be key - especially with Paulo Dybala absent.
Roma will likely rely on quick, vertical passes to break Lille’s shape, hoping to catch the French side’s exposed midfield before they can recover their defensive structure.
Key Pointers
Roma have won five of their last six matches this season, conceding just one goal.
The Giallorossi have averaged just 1 goal scored and 0.2 goals conceded per match.
Only one of Roma’s matches this season saw both teams score.
Lille’s three away matches this season have produced 17 goals in total.
Lille have the highest xG and xGA in Ligue 1.
Roma matches average 1.2 goals per game, Lille’s average 3.67 - this contrast favors Roma’s control.
Roma are unbeaten at home this season with four clean sheets.
This will be the first competitive clash between Roma and Lille.
Roma have won two of their last three UEL ties against French opposition (L1), while Lille hold a positive record against Italian teams (W7, D3, L4).
However, Lille have never started a Europa League campaign with consecutive wins, while Roma are chasing just their second-ever 2-0 start in the league phase since the competition's rebrand in 2009.
Despite Lille’s explosive attacking numbers, Roma’s elite defensive setup and the low-scoring nature of their matches suggest this won’t be a goal-fest.
Gasperini’s side thrives on control and discipline, particularly at home, and Lille’s vulnerability away from home - combined with likely fatigue from their domestic setbacks - points to a narrow win.
Prediction: Under 1.5 Goals
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