Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen Preview
Following a thrilling weekend of club football, attention now shifts to European football, with Bayer Leverkusen traveling to Italy to face AS Roma in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final tie. The Clash of the Titans is scheduled for May 2nd, Thursday, at the Stadio Olimpico. Scroll down to learn more about the Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen semi-final preview, prediction, and betting tips.
Xabi Alonso and his team will enter this contest having secured the Bundesliga title. They now have their sights set on the treble, a feat well within reach. The German champions, unbeaten throughout the entire calendar year, have established themselves as the team to beat under the guidance of their Spanish manager. Following a hard-fought 2-2 draw against VfB Stuttgart in their last domestic game, Leverkusen will now aim to extend their unbeaten run as they face a formidable AS Roma side away from home.
The Italian outfit, having missed out on the Serie A title several weeks ago, are now determined to end the season on a high note by clinching the prestigious European tournament. Manager Daniele De Rossi has hinted at an exciting Thursday night of football ahead of this crucial clash. With the domestic title out of reach, Roma are now fighting for a Champions League spot. Currently sitting in fifth position in the Serie A points table, they trail fourth-placed Bologna by four points.
Like their European rivals, they too will head into the Europa League semi-final off the back of a 2-2 draw in the Italian top flight. This Thursday’s game is not only about the players on the field; it’s also about a tactical battle between two majestic midfielders, Alonso and Rossi, who will be on the sidelines. Meanwhile, let’s take a look at the team news coming out of both camps ahead of the UEL semi-final.
Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen Team News
Roma
De Rossi’s main concern ahead of Thursday’s semifinal is the fitness of his key attacking player, Romelu Lukaku, who remains a doubt. If the Belgian is unable to play, Tammy Abraham will vie with Sardar Azmoun for the starting spot up front. Abraham, who scored the injury-time equalizer against Napoli over the weekend, maybe favored to start against Leverkusen.
Rick Karsdorp is expected to start at right-back, with Zeki Celik serving a one-match suspension. Additionally, Leandro Paredes will return for Roma on Thursday after serving a ban in the quarter-final second leg. However, Chris Smalling is likely to be unavailable due to injury.
AS Roma Probable Playing XI: M. Svilar; Karsdorp, Mancini, Ndicka, Spinazzola, Cristante, Pellegrini, Paredes, Dybala, Abraham, Faraone
Bayer Leverkusen
There aren’t many injury concerns in the Leverkusen camp at the moment. The only major issue may be the fitness of Jonathan Tah, who picked up a knock against Stuttgart last weekend. He will undergo a fitness test on Tuesday and will only feature if deemed fit. However, both Adam Hlozek and Borja Iglesias will miss out.
Leverkusen probable playing XI: Hradecky; Tapsoba, Kossounou, Hincapie, Frimpong, Alex Grimaldo, Andrich, Palacios, Hofmann, Writz, Schick
Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen Head-to-head Stats
Both of these teams have consistently provided unforgettable nights of football for fans whenever they’ve faced each other. They’ve clashed in a total of 7 games across all competitions to date, with four of those matches ending in draws. Their most recent meeting occurred in the Europa League last year, resulting in a goalless draw.
Last five H2H Results:
Leverkusen 0-0 Roma (2023, Europa League)
Roma 1-0 Leverkusen (2023, Europa League)
Roma 3-2 Leverkusen (2015, Europa League)
Leverkusen 4-4 Roma (2015, Europa League)
Leverkusen 2-2 Roma (2007, International Friendly)
Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction
Given the thrilling nature of past contests between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen, it’s challenging to predict the outcome of the game before kickoff. However, considering the current form of both teams, it seems that the German side is slightly favored to secure a narrow win.
Alonso’s team notably defeated an experienced West Ham United on their path to the semi-finals, and with a possible treble in sight, they are unlikely to falter in this crucial stage. As for Roma, they will undoubtedly aim to clinch a victory and put pressure on their German opponents before the second leg. Nevertheless, the possibility of a draw cannot be discounted, as both teams may opt for a cautious approach to leave the fate of the tie for the next leg.
Predicted Score: Roma 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen Odds & Betting Tips
Betting Tips
- Leverkusen to beat Roma
- Both teams to score – yes
- Goals over 2.5 – yes
Odds
- Roma: 4.12
- Draw: 3.96
- Bayer Leverkusen: 4.64
Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen UEL Semi-Final Schedule & Telecast Details
- Venue: Stadio Olimpico
- Schedule: Thursday, 2nd May at 7:30 PM (GMT)
- India: Sony Ten1, Sony LIV
- UK: TNT Sports
- USA: FOX Sports