Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma: Preview, lineups and predictions
Bayer Leverkusen will look to book their spot in the Europa League final and maintain their unbeaten record on Thursday night when they face Roma in the second leg of their semi-final.
Xabi Alonso’s side have already been crowned Bundesliga champions this season and find themselves in the DFB Pokal final without losing a single match. They are still on course for a historic treble and boast a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Rome last week thanks to goals from Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich.
Roma have seen a dramatic upturn in form since Jose Mourinho was replaced by Daniele De Rossi on the touchline, although they are now without a win in three matches. They will have to do what no other team has managed this season and beat Leverkusen at the BayArena this Thursday, while also overturning a two-goal deficit.
Here is 90min’s guide to Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma in the Europa League.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma H2H Record (Last Five Games)Current form (all competitions)Bayer Leverkusen
Roma
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-5 Bayer Leverkusen – 05/05/24
Roma 1-1 Juventus – 05/05/24
Roma 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen – 02/05/24
Roma 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen – 02/05/24
Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Stuttgart – 27/04/24
Napoli 2-2 Roma – 28/04/24
Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen – 21/04/24
Udinese 1-2 Roma – 25/04/24
West Ham 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen – 18/04/24
Roma 1-3 Bologna – 22/04/24
Leverkusen have no injury concerns ahead of the upcoming clash / Image Photo Agency/GettyImages
Luck has often shone on Bayer Leverkusen this season and it appears to have done so once more ahead of their second leg against Roma, with Alonso having no major fitness concerns to contend with.
Leverkusen were able to rest some players during their 5-1 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend, with the likes of Wirtz and Alejandro Grimaldo given days off and Victor Boniface and Jeremie Frimpong only used from the bench.
Bayer Leverkusen predicted lineup vs Roma (3-4-2-1): Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Adli; Boniface.
Paulo Dybala is an injury doubt for the trip to Germany / Danilo Di Giovanni/GettyImages
Roma also have a clean bill of health heading to Leverkusen, although there were concerns after Paulo Dybala was substituted at half-time against his former employers Juventus at the weekend. However, the Argentine should be fit enough to feature.
De Rossi didn’t rest his key attackers against the Old Lady during the 1-1 draw on Sunday, although he did heavily rotate his backline. Romelu Lukaku, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Dybala are among the stars who could prove decisive at the BayArena.
Roma predicted lineup vs Bayer Leverkusen (4-3-3): Svilar; Karsdorp, Mancini, Smalling, Spinazzola; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy.
Given Leverkusen’s remarkable record this season, it would be foolish to bet on a Roma win here. The Italian side do have the capacity to spring a surprise, but they’re unlikely to become the first conquerors of the German champions this season.
Leverkusen’s ability to bench key players at the weekend has made Alonso’s life much simpler and his well-rested side should claim yet another victory on home soil this Thursday.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Roma (5-1 on aggregate)READ THE LATEST EUROPA LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE
