Brighton v Roma: Pascal Gross to lead speculative comeback for the Seagulls

• Brighton will throw caution to the wind against Roma

• Pascal Gross' creative force to drive the Seagulls

• Read all about Betfair's 90 Minute Payout here!

Brighton v Roma
Thursday 14th March, 20:00
Live on TNT Sports 3

Seagulls comeback is a tremendous long shot

"I am sure the next time Brighton will play in European competition, we will be ready to compete and to organise everything better," said Roberto De Zerbi, following his side's 4-0 defeat in Rome last week.

Brighton may only be at half time of their Europa League tie with Roma, but their tournament exit is just about sealed. To hear De Zerbi already reflecting on the lessons learned from this season, particularly when it comes to playing in European competition, tells you as much.

No side has ever overturned a four-goal deficit from the first leg of a two-legged knockout tie to progress in the Europa League. Indeed, to apply the same logic across all such ties in major European competition, Barcelona's historic comeback against PSG in 2017 is the only one within the last 30 or so years. Unfortunately, Brighton won't be able to field the peak trident of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez in their attempt.

Of course, Daniele De Rossi's Roma don't look much like a team who will be prone to such a collapse. They've only lost one of their 11 games under the new boss (W7 D3), and their 4-0 win over Brighton in the first leg was the heaviest defeat inflicted on an English side in Europe since since 2019, when Spurs were crushed by eventual Champions League winners FC Bayern München (2-7). Roma have landed a defining blow, and only need to add the finishing touches.

With such a healthy aggregate lead, one would expect Brighton to be the ones taking the initiative on Thursday night. Roma will presumably be content with the home side having much of the ball, as long as they can't find meaningful space to attack, and De Rossi's game-plan will no doubt revolve around containing Brighton and trying to steal a goal in transition.

With De Zerbi's side having to throw caution to the wind, I expect they'll be able to make a breakthrough this time - albeit at the expense of leaving themselves vulnerable.

Both teams have scored in 13 of their 17 games at the Amex Stadium this season, while Brighton have averaged seven corners per game there this term. With a need to pile the pressure on and try pen Roma in, I'll back over 9.5 corners in the game and both sides to find the net.

Gross continues to star as Brighton's chief creator

If there's anyone in Brighton's team that possesses both the mentality and the quality to lead a comeback charge, it's Pascal Gross. The German midfielder is now in his seventh season with the club, yet he might be playing his best football yet. Somehow, the 32-year-old just seems to keep excelling by the year.

Gross' 13 assists this season are not only his most in a single campaign for Brighton, but the joint-most of any Premier League players across all competitions this term (level with Bukayo Saka). Indeed, his 99 chances created are also the second-most of any Premier League player, behind Bruno Fernandes (110).

If Brighton are able to construct the type of game that they want on Thursday, namely in terms of dominating territory and piling on the pressure in Roma's penalty area, then you can expect Gross to be right in the mix of it all. Whether it's in threading the needle from open play or whipping set plays into dangerous areas, the Seagulls will need plenty from the German's right foot if they're to make Roma wobble.

Gross has also played more minutes than any other Brighton player across all competitions this season (3,114), so unless De Zerbi has already decided to throw in the towel - an unlikely scenario given his fiery attitude - the midfielder should be the first name on the team-sheet come Thursday night.

Whether Brighton believe in a comeback or not, you can bank on the 32-year-old being the one trying to force the issue once the whistle goes. And with 13 assists to his name already this term, I'll back him to produce another within his side's last ditch European efforts.

Now read the rest of our Europa League Tips here!