This midweek Champions League preliminary match has much more drama than usual. Manchester United are in a tailspin; winless in their last nine competitive matches and in need of serious change. On Tuesday, they welcome AS Roma to Old Trafford for a showdown between two teams fighting for a spot in the knockout rounds. With that in mind, it’s safe to say dropped points would be dire for United at this stage.
Man United are solid +125 favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook for this matchup, with a draw available at +300. If you’re keen on the Roma upset, they’re priced at +180 to win the match within 90 minutes.
Man United vs. AS Roma Prediction, Pick
United’s problems start with the defense. In their nine-game winless streak, the Red Devils have conceded at least one goal in every match and multiple goals in five of the nine contests. That streak has coincided with two important UCL ties, and they didn’t cover themselves in glory there. Losing 2-0 to a robust Atletico Madrid side isn’t cause for significant panic, but their 4-1 loss at Como sent the club into crisis. Manager Michael Carrick nearly lost his job in the fray, and any match could be his last. It has also raised further questions about Bruno Fernandes; the longtime captain is seemingly at odds with Carrick. He has not registered a goal involvement in his last five matches.
The defense isn’t going to magically become a lock-down unit anytime soon, especially with Lisandro Martinez playing horrific football. That means Fernandes and the rest of the attack have to get things going. Bryan Mbeumo has been their most consistent attacker by a mile, but the rest of the squad have yet to step up. Matheus Cunha, Amad Diallo, and Marcus Rashford have all been disappointments thus far; someone needs to take charge and provide some danger.
Roma have no problem scoring goals. Over their last six competitive matches, the Giallorossi have scored a whopping 21 goals, and have multiple goals in all six contests. That includes a rousing 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the UCL and a crushing 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid — who overcame a 3-1 deficit in the final 10 minutes to steal the victory. Striker Donyell Malen continues to churn out goals at the top of their formation, and the pressure from the wide areas has been superb. Matias Soulé — their prolific attacking midfielder — continues to take a star turn early in the year.
This matchup starts with Roma’s attack against this United defense. Will their Serie A attacking success translate against a Premier League defense, albeit a poor one? Malen is used to physicality, and will have no problem pushing open gaps between himself and their central defenders. Soulé’s skill and quickness may prove difficult to handle for United’s slow central midfield as well. On the other end, will United’s wide attack be able to get in behind Roma’s wide backs? Time and space for Bryan Mbeumo on the outside can be a dangerous thing.
Not only are the vibes in the toilet for United, but the matchup works against them significantly. This team is firmly on the back foot defensively and will get all the pressure they can handle. I expect Roma to storm into Manchester and take all three points, solidifying their position in the top 24 and moving a step closer to knockout round football.
