AS Roma will look to book their place in their second European final in two seasons when they travel to BayArena to play Bayer Leverkusen.
Leverkusen were beaten 1-0 in the first leg but have the chance at redemption at the BayArena, where they have won five of their last seven games in all competitions (D1, L1).
However, the hosts come into this tie in poor form, having not won a game in their last four tries (D2, L2). Their last outing was a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart, which has all but ended their chance of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the UCL next season.
Therefore their only chance of playing UCL football next campaign is by winning the UEL this season. Beating Roma here by multiple goals is the first step toward achieving that goal.
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Coach Xabi Alonso indicated, “Nothing is lost” after their defeat in Rome. But having not scored more than once in their last four games, it could be another disappointing end to what has been a brilliant UEFA Europa League campaign.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho will look to take Roma to their second European final in as many years when they visit Germany on Thursday. The Portuguese tactician will fancy his side’s chances of winning this tie given that Giallorossi have a tremendous record of winning ten of their last eleven European ties following a 1-0 success in the first leg at home (L1).
However, that lone exception did come against a Bundesliga club, but Mourinho will be more concerned about their failure to score in each of their last three European away ties (D1, L2), with both those defeats coming by a 1-0 scoreline.
Should this tie end 1-0 in favour of the hosts, then a place in the final in Budapest will be determined in extra time and potentially a penalty shootout. Such an occurrence would be another huge test for a squad that has “reached their limit”, according to Mourinho.
Meanwhile, Roma lost five of their last six (D1) UEFA visits to Germany, including a 3-1 H2H defeat in 2004.
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