Bayer Leverkusen is aiming for revenge against Roma in the semi-finals of the 2023/24 Europa League.
Xabi Alonso lost out to former coach Jose Mourinho at this stage of the competition last season, with Roma claiming a 1-0 aggregate win before losing to Sevilla in the final.
Alonso’s Leverkusen have matured and developed exponentially since that defeat. The German team, which remains unbeaten in all competitions this season, has already secured the Bundesliga title.
Germany’s dominant side overcame a tricky challenge at West Ham United to reach the last four for the second year in a row as Roma strolled past domestic rivals Milan.
Here is 90 minutes Preview of the first leg of this Europa League semi-final.
Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen H2H Record (All Games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Roma |
Bayer Leverkusen |
|---|---|
|
Naples – Rome 2-2 – 04/28/24 |
Bayer Leverkusen 2:2 Stuttgart – 04/27/24 |
|
Udinese – Rome 1-2 – 04/25/24 |
Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen – 21/04/24 |
|
Rome – Bologna 1:3 – 04/22/24 |
West Ham 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen – 18/04/24 |
|
Rome – Milan 2-1 – 04/18/24 |
Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 Werder Bremen – 14/04/24 |
|
Milan 0-1 Rome – 04/11/24 |
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 West Ham – 11/04/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
Great Britain |
TNT Sports 2, Discovery+ App, Discovery+ |
|
United States |
TUDN.com, TUDN USA, UniMás, CBS Sports Network, TUDN App, Paramount+, Univision NOW |
|
Canada |
DAZN |
Roma will be without the suspended Zeki Celik, so Dutchman Rick Karsdorp is likely to join the team at right-back.
Romelu Lukaku could be out with a muscle injury, but De Rossi has Tammy Abraham fit and available again after a long layoff.
It’s unlikely Chris Smalling will be there.
Predicted line-up for Roma against Bayer Leverkusen (4-3-3): Svilar; Karsdorp, Mancini. Ndicka, Spinazzola; Paredes, Cristante, Pellegrini; Dybala, Abraham, El Shaarawy.
Alonso will be without supporting players Adam Hlozek and Borja Iglesias for the trip to Rome on Thursday. There are also concerns about central defender Jonathan Tah. The German defender suffered a stroke against Stuttgart at the weekend and is questionable for the first leg.
Florian Wirtz is sure to return to the starting XI after coming off the bench on Saturday, while Victor Boniface will duel Patrik Schick for a place at the top.
Expected lineup of Bayer Leverkusen against Roma (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Adli; Boniface.
Daniele De Rossi has called on his weary side to step up at the crucial time and the Italians will need to put in a strong performance at the Olimpico to have a chance of getting past the competition favorites.
The Italian’s Roma are more diverse than Mourinho’s version, with the new coach combining traditional and progressive ideals to make the Giallorossi a formidable team in knockout matches.
They are excellent at home and played so impressively in the quarter-finals. Therefore, Leverkusen may have to stage one of their trademark comebacks in the second leg to reach the final. Roma may be tired, but the visitors will feel it too, and now their unbeaten record could be slipping.