HJK vs Roma

Bolt Arena forms the backdrop for a bottom-half Europa League Group C six-pointer between HJK and Roma.

With their 32nd Finnish Veikkausliiga title already in the bag, HJK capped off their domestic season with an underwhelming 1-0 home defeat to KuPS, making it two successive losses without scoring in all competitions. Despite going winless in all four Europa League fixtures this season (D1, L3), including a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Roma in September, HJK could still give their European campaign a lifeline. Heading into the final two Europa League group stage rounds, the ‘Klubi’ trail third-placed Roma by three points and could still make it to a third-place finish, which ensures a switchover to the Europa Conference League knockouts. But after picking up just one victory in their last five European group stage outings, it’s no wonder Toni Koskela’s men come into this encounter as underdogs.

In the meantime, visiting Roma suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 home defeat to Napoli in a mouth-watering Serie A showdown at the weekend, being knocked down from a three-match unbeaten run in all competitions (W2, D1). Now fighting for their Europa League survival following a disastrous three-game start to Group C (D1, L2), ‘I Giallorossi’ need to win here and hope Real Betis beat Ludogorets in the other fixture to take their progression hopes to the final matchday. With three points separating them from the second-placed Bulgarians, Jose Mourinho’s men will be glad this encounter takes place outside Rome, as they’ve won three of their last four competitive away matches (D1). A failed attempt to acquire all three points won’t be the end of the world, as it’ll transfer them to the Europa Conference League, the competition they conquered last season.