Stat Attack: Facts to know ahead of Gent meeting

Thursday's game at the Stadio Olimpico, the first leg of our last-32 tie with the Belgian side, gets underway at 21:00 local time.

Past meetings with Belgian sides

Roma have faced opponents from Belgium in European competition on nine previous occasions – with the 18 matches to date finishing with nine victories, six draws and just three defeats. Seven of those ties were during the knockout phase – with the Giallorossi qualifying on five occasions and going out twice.

Two prior confrontations with Gent

These two sides last faced each other in the play-off rounds of the 2009-10 UEFA Cup. Roma won both the games on that occasion: 3-1 at the Olimpico, and then 7-1 in Belgium.

Another Totti landmark

Francesco Totti actually scored his first goal in UEFA competition against a Belgian side – it came against Aalst, in the last-32 of the UEFA Cup, back in 1995.

Home fortress

Roma’s last 14 European games at the Stadio Olimpico have ended with 10 victories and three draws. The only defeat in that run came against Real Madrid, during the group stage of last season’s campaign.

Dzeko 101

Edin Dzeko’s goal against Atalanta – despite being in defeat – was his 101st for the club, moving him within one of Vincenzo Montella in the club’s list of all-time goalscorers.

More to come?

In his last nine appearances at the Olimpico in UEFA competitions for the Giallorossi, Dzeko has scored 10 goals.

Reasons for Gent to be positive

Gent have reached the last-32 of the UEFA Cup/Europa League on three occasions and have qualified every time; against Tottenham Hotspur (2016-17), Eintracht Frankfurt (1991-92) and Sportul Studentesc (1986-87).

On form this season too

Gent finished top of Group I to reach the knockout stages, remaining unbeaten in a group that also included Wolfsburg, Saint-Etienne and Olexandriya. They ended up finishing the group with 12 points from a possible 18.

Danger men

Laurent Depoitre leads the goalscoring charts for Gent in the competition this season, having scored four already. Roman Yaremchuk (3) and Jonathan David (2) follow close behind.

Domestic delight

Right now Gent sit second in the table in Belgium, nine points behind leaders Club Brugge.