Bayer Leverkusen will travel to Rome this Thursday to take on Jose Mourinho’s side, AS Roma, in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final tie.
The Serie A giants are one of the favourites to win the Europa League this season, given the experience of manager Mourinho and their recent Europa Conference League win last season. That title win was their first European title in over 60 years.
However, they head into this Europa League semi-final looking to bounce back from a 2-0 loss to Inter Milan at the weekend. That was the fourth-successive game without a win for Mourinho’s side (D2, L2). Still, the Portuguese manager insists he’s “optimistic” his players will return to form, despite admitting they are “tired” due to a hectic fixture schedule.
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But in all this, Roma’s poor domestic form has seen them drop out of the Serie A top six. As such, success in the UEL might be their best hope of qualifying for Europe next season. Returning to UEL action perhaps comes as a welcome distraction, and the Roma supporters will be confident of securing a first-leg triumph against Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side at Stadio Olimpico, where the Serie A club have lost just one of their last 24 European matches (W17, D6).
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen will look to get back to winning ways when they travel to Rome on Thursday.
Xabi Alonso’s side were dealt a huge blow in their quest for a top-four finish in Bundesliga last outing, as FC Koln beat them 2-1 at home. The result ended a run of 14 consecutive games without defeat for Leverkusen (W10, D4).
However, the visitors look set to get a result here, as they make the trip from Germany on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run away from the BayArena (W6, D3). That run has been built on a water-tight defence that has kept a clean sheet in four of the last five away trips.
Alonso is confident his side can win here as they aim to reach their first European final since 2002. The former Liverpool midfielder has urged his players to make May a month to “forever remember” as they seek a first win in Italy this century (D1, L5).
Meanwhile, both teams have scored in the previous four meetings between these sides, so a BTTS/GG game can be expected.
