Two teams seeking their first win in this season's Europa League meet at Boras Arena on Thursday, as Elfsborg play host to Roma in their second league-phase fixture.
The hosts are intent on claiming a first home victory in major European competition since 1978, while their visitors aim to improve a dismal record on the road.
Match preview
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In the aftermath of Daniele De Rossi's dramatic departure, Roma came close to taking maximum points from last week's Europa League opener, though they ultimately had to settle for a 1-1 home draw against Athletic Bilbao.
Artem Dovbyk paid off another chunk of his sizeable transfer fee when opening the scoring, but the Giallorossi conceded a late leveller and were ultimately denied victory by their Basque counterparts.
Nonetheless, they won both league matches either side of that result, and new boss Ivan Juric has made an impressive start under difficult circumstances, as fan unrest bubbled to the surface after De Rossi's dismissal.
Following a 3-0 win over early Serie A pace-setters Udinese, Roma struck twice in the last 20 minutes of Sunday's comeback win over Venezia, leaving them ninth in the standings with nine points from six games.
Undefeated in five outings across all competitions, there are signs that the club's extensive summer recruitment may yet pay off, and after years of coaching strugglers and mid-table teams, Juric will now be keen to make a mark in Europe.
If Roma are to achieve a top-eight finish in the Europa League, though, they must surely start the process of improving their sub-par away record: last season, they won just two of seven continental contests on the road.
Indeed, before tackling Swedish opposition for the first time since November 1999, the Giallorossi have won only three of their last 15 Europa League matches outside of Rome.
![Elfsborg manager Oscar Hiljemark during the Allsvenskan football match between Elfsborg and IFK Göteborg on August 25, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/35/oscar-hiljemark.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Elfsborg manager Oscar Hiljemark during the Allsvenskan football match between Elfsborg and IFK Göteborg on August 25, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]")
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Precedent does not necessarily favour Thursday's hosts either, as Elfsborg have lost four of five games against Italian opponents to date - though they did win the other 1-0 against Roma's arch-rivals Lazio, in a qualifier 15 years ago.
The Boras-based club are back in European competition proper for the first time since a Europa League group-stage exit in 2013, when they took just one point from their opening five matches.
Although they may be eyeing a playoff place this season, the draw this time around suggests an uphill struggle is in prospect again: as well as facing Roma, Tottenham Hotspur, Galatasaray, Nice and Athletic Club all await.
Head coach Oscar Hiljemark saw his side produce just three shots in their opening matchday defeat to AZ Alkmaar, though they did score from two, with Timothy Ouma and Simon Hedlund combining for both goals in a 3-2 away loss.
On home soil this term, Elfsborg have posted three wins and one loss from four Europa League qualifiers, albeit against more modest opposition.
However, the club currently occupying fifth place in Sweden's Allsvenskan following a weekend win over Kalmar have won just one of 12 major European matches at Boras Arena - and none since beating Strasbourg in the 1978-79 UEFA Cup.
Team News
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Roma boss Ivan Juric is expected to rotate his starting line-up considerably, amid a hectic schedule leading up to this month's international break, with stars such as Paulo Dybala and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini likely to be rested.
Neither is fully fit in any case, but Gianluca Mancini should recover after picking up a knock against Venezia; his availability could see the much-awaited debut of Mats Hummels delayed further.
Elsewhere, Mile Svilar may make way for back-up goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, and Uzbek striker Eldor Shomurodov is in line to replace Artem Dovbyk up front; only Alexis Saelemaekers and Enzo Le Fee are sidelined by injury.
Elfsborg are set to field their strongest XI, with the exception of Sebastian Holmen, who was sent off against AZ and must serve a suspension.
Brothers Arber Zeneli and Besfort Zeneli should feature in the hosts' lineup, which will be spearheaded by Ghanaian striker Michael Baidoo. The latter registered six goal involvements during Europa League qualifying.
Elfsborg possible starting lineup:
Pettersson; Larsson, Buhari, Yegbe; Hedlund, B. Zeneli, Ouma, Hult; A. Zeneli, Baidoo, Qasem
Roma possible starting lineup:
Ryan; Mancini, Hermoso, Ndicka; Celik, Pisilli, Paredes, Angelino; Pellegrini, Baldanzi; Shomorudov
We say: Elfsborg 1-2 Roma
While Roma are set to rest several players, they have sharpened up since changing manager and will still prove too strong for Elfsborg.
Some bright attacking talent is available to Ivan Juric, so the Giallorossi will get off the mark with a first European win of the season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
