Manchester United vs Roma: Betting Preview, Tips and Prediction

Gian Piero Gasperini has surprisingly chosen Rodrigo Mora to start Roma's Champions League trip to Manchester United, alongside Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen rather than the usual three central midfielders. The Portuguese playmaker, a former Porto player, has won the head coach over after some frustration at spending too much of the early season on the bench. Mora has scored twice in consecutive league matches, against Cagliari and Udinese, and has delivered a run of strong performances. This will be his second start in the Champions League, and the Italian press describes it as his moment to prove himself. In defence there are doubts, with Leonardo Balerdi pushing for a place in place of Gianluca Mancini. In goal, Devis Vásquez takes over from the injured Pierluigi Gollini.

Giorgio De Marzi and Devis Vásquez could suddenly find themselves in the spotlight for Roma's Champions League night against Manchester United, after Pierluigi Gollini picked up an injury following Mile Svilar's absence. Coach Gasperini may be forced to turn to one of the two goalkeepers who have so far stayed on the margins of the project, an emergency that has several precedents in Roma's history. One of the most unusual cases dates back to 1993, when Patrizio Fimiani was called upon to guard Roma's goal in the two-legged Coppa Italia final against Torino. The experience was not a happy one: Roma lost 3-0 in the first leg, and in the return at the Olimpico they lost 5-2 despite almost completing a comeback. In the 2000s, the turn fell to Carlo Zotti and Gianluca Curci. Zotti, a product of the youth sector, started as third choice behind Pelizzoli and Lupatelli and made his Serie A debut in May 2003 against Torino. The 2004/05 season proved particularly difficult for him. He alternated good performances with several errors and eventually lost his place. The main beneficiary was Curci, initially third in the pecking order. After his Coppa Italia debut against Siena, he made his Serie A debut on 19 December 2004 against Parma. Pelizzoli was injured and Zotti accidentally cut himself with a bottle of perfume, forcing Roma to rely on the young keeper from the Primavera. The most famous precedent, however, is Julio Sergio. Arriving in the capital in 2006, the Brazilian spent over three years without playing a competitive match, so much so that Spalletti described him as "the best third-choice goalkeeper in the world". His breakthrough came on 30 August 2009 against Juventus, when Doni was injured and Artur's performances had failed to convince the coach, who opted for Julio Sergio. Roma lost 3-1, but the Brazilian subsequently won the starting place under Ranieri and became one of the key figures in the team that came close to the Scudetto in 2010, a fairytale culminating in decisive saves in the derbies against Lazio. Far less fortunate was the experience of Mauro Goicoechea. Arriving in 2012 as third choice behind Stekelenburg and Lobont, the Uruguayan made his debut on 31 October against Parma, coming on at half-time for the injured Dutchman. With Lobont also unavailable, Goicoechea found himself guarding the giallorossi goal. Zeman then chose to back him, giving him a permanent place in the starting line-up. The decision did not bring the hoped-for results and culminated in a disastrous blunder on 1 February 2013 against Cagliari. Roma lost 4-2 amid whistles at the Olimpico, and the following day Zeman was sacked. More recently, Daniel Fuzato, third choice behind Pau Lopez and Mirante, made his debut on 1 August 2020 against Juventus on the final matchday of the league season, taking advantage of Fonseca's rotation. The following season he saw more game time, defending the Roma goal in the 2-0 derby win over Lazio on 15 May 2021. Pau Lopez's injury brings back memories of another emergency Roma faced at Old Trafford. On 29 April 2021, in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United, the Spaniard had to leave the pitch in the 28th minute with a shoulder problem. Antonio Mirante came on in his place. Roma, 2-1 up at half-time, collapsed after the break, conceding five goals and losing 6-2. Five years on, Roma again risk finding themselves in an emergency between the posts in Manchester. Everything will depend on Gollini's condition, but for Vásquez or De Marzi the opportunity could come, one that was hard to imagine only a few hours ago.

Roma's Primavera side came back from Manchester with a valuable point, drawing 1-1 at United in the fourth matchday of the Youth League League Phase, with Arena converting a late penalty. Roma trail after a goal from Thompson on 39 minutes but equalised in the closing stages, and the point lifts them to seven points. Roma started well and almost took the lead after just one minute, when Arena failed to make the most of a fine pass from Camara. As the game went on, United grew in confidence and found the opener on 39 minutes: Mantato broke down the flank and delivered a cross that Thompson drove into the net for the 1-0 English side. Coach Mattia Scala's team pushed for a response after the break but also risked conceding a second. Kilvinger was decisive on 77 minutes, stopping Ibragimov as he broke clear on the counter-attack. A minute later came the moment that changed the match: Thompson handled a cross from Corredera, and Roma were awarded a penalty. Arena stepped up and did not miss, levelling at 1-1 on 79 minutes. The score held until the final whistle. The result follows a 2-0 win over Inter in the league, and keeps alive the young Giallorossi's European ambitions. Roma now sit on seven points after four matchdays. Their next fixture, on 25 November, is an away trip to Paris Saint-Germain.