CSKA SOFIA

League position: 2nd
Head coach: Stoycho Mladenov
Top-scorer: Jordy Caicedo (14)

RECENT FORM

CSKA: W L L W D
ROMA: W W W L L

The hosts have nothing to lose on Thursday, with their Group C exit already confirmed after picking up just one point from their first five matches.

One win in Sofia’s last three in the league (W1, D1, L1) has also dented their title hopes, with Mladenov’s men sitting nine points off top heading into the final 11 matches of the season - although they do have one game in hand over leaders Ludogorets.

As for the Giallorossi, they are already assured of a spot in the knockout stages of the inaugural UECL competition and victory - paired with Bodo/Glimt being unable to beat Zorya Luhansk - would see them claim top spot in Group C.

With injuries to key men Lorenzo Pellegrini, Leonardo Spinazzola, and Stephan El Shaarawy - as well as the absence of Felix Afena-Gyan as he is not registered for the competition - head coach Jose Mourinho’s squad is being tested and there could be a number of changes to the side ahead of another congested month of football.

Possible CSKA line-up

(4-3-3)

Busatto; Ivan Turitsov, Mattheij, Lam, Mazikou; Geferson, Vion, Muhar; Yomov, Caicedo, Carey

DANGER MAN
Jordy Caicedo

Ecuador international Caicedo was suspended when these two sides met on Matchday 1 of the campaign but has started every Group C game since.

He is an essential member of Mladenov’s team and has led the line superbly with 14 goals from 26 appearances in all competitions this term.

Caicedo has, however, failed to find the net in the group stages but he is certainly not alone in that when it comes to a CSKA side that has scored just once in Group C so far.

They will be hoping to go out of Europe with a bang and will be looking to their five-cap Ecuadorian to help them do so.

MATCH STATS

Roma have won five, drawn one and lost just once in seven European meetings with CSKA, albeit they lost their last visit to the Balgarska Armiya in December 2020.

From those seven previous fixtures between the two, the Giallorossi have kept a clean sheet on five occasions.

Roma have lost only two of their last 13 games in the group stage of European competitions (W8, D3, L2) and have shut out their opposition in 13 of their last 15 matches.

During that time, Roma have scored 38 goals and at an average of 2.5 per match.

PLAYER STATS

• CSKA captain Jurgen Mattheij has made a total of 16 interceptions in the UECL so far, a number no player in the competition can better.
  
• Nicolo Zaniolo has laid on an assist in each of his three Europa Conference League appearances this season and score in his most recent outing against Zorya.
  
• With all three of Zaniolo’s assists coming from open play, only Bodo/Glimt striker Erik Botheim (four) has more.
  
• Tammy Abraham has scored four goals in five UECL appearances and a goal in Sofia would see him become the second Roma player to score five or more goals in a single group stage of a major UEFA competition, after Edin Dzeko.

WHAT THEY SAID

“There is a little lack of class. The final touch is the class we have to show. Here we have to add class – with a lot of work and patience. We have athletes who they have the necessary qualities, but they need time and patience.”

- CSKA coach Stoycho Mladenov, after the 1-1 draw with Pirin