Leicester v Roma predictions: Maddison may make his mark

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the Europa Conference League semi-final first leg between Leicester and Roma on Thursday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm Thursday

Best bet

James Maddison first goalscorer
1pt each-way 8-1 bet365

Team news

Leicester
Wilfred Ndidi and Ryan Bertrand are injured. Nampalys Mendy is not registered for this competition but Boubakary Soumare is fit again.

Roma
Nicolo Zaniolo returns from a domestic ban. Bryan Cristante (back) should be fit.

Match preview

Brendan Rodgers needs to outfox former boss Jose Mourinho if Leicester are to deliver the performance that will give them a sniff of qualifying for a first European final in Rome next week.

Leicester are 180 minutes away from achieving something very special, ironically in a competition Rodgers claimed he'd never heard of while his side were making a mess of the Europa League group stage in the autumn.

But his side have excelled in Europe's third-string tournament, the Conference League, battering Randers 7-2 on aggregate before squeezing their way past two very capable outfits, Rennes and PSV.

Roma have been here from the start, banging in the goals – they've found the net in all 12 of their ties – as they hunt down a first piece of silverware since the 2008 Coppa Italia.

The Giallorossi, with the Special One in charge, come to the King Power with the kudos, the glamour and the pedigree. They also, however, come with the likes of Chris Smalling and Tammy Abraham in their side so no one's pretending they are some sort of superpower.

England striker Abraham is actually the tournament's joint-top scorer with eight and is enjoying a decent time in Rome, where the Wolves are locked in a fascinating four-way fight for a pair of Europa League spots. They lost 3-1 at Inter Milan last time out.

There's a sense that Abraham will get chances in a game which promises goals if only because there have been so many in Roma's matches this season. They've conceded 40 goals in Serie A while Leicester have shipped 51 in the Premier League so neither team is particularly watertight.

There's another man with a keen eye for goal who makes a fair amount of first goalscorer appeal at 8-1 and that's Leicester's James Maddison, scorer of 14 goals from off the frontmen this season, including four in Europe.

Key stat

Roma have scored exactly one goal in each of their last seven away games.

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