AS Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen
After claiming the Europa Conference League last season, Jose Mourinho’s Roma remain in contention for another European title as they face Bayern Leverkusen in the Europa League semi-finals.
However, the Italians have been in awful form as they’ve gone winless in their last four games since securing their spot in the semis.
They now take on a Leverkusen side that will be playing in their first European semi-final since reaching the Champions League final in 2002.
The German side are led by Xabi Alonso, who played for Mourinho at Real Madrid. And the Spanish great will be keen to defy the Europa League 2023 betting odds and get one over on his old boss in the first leg in Rome.
Talking Points
Roma struggling and banged up
Roma are making another late European cup run. The reigning Europa Conference League champions have reached the Europa League semi-finals after beating Feyenoord 4-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Roma forced extra-time with a 2-1 win, then scored two more goals to clinch the tie.
However, the Giallorossi have struggled in Serie A since that win. They suffered losses to Atalanta and Inter, as well as two 1-1 draws against AC Milan and Monza. Those poor results have seen Roma drop to seventh in Serie A.
Roma were without several key players in their 2-0 loss to Inter, including defenders Chris Smalling, Diego Llorente, midfielder Gini Wijnaldum, and forward Stephan El Shaarawy.
Wijnaldum is back in training, which is a good sign for Roma. But Smalling is still not back and is looking unlikely to feature in the first leg.
Meanwhile, Mourinho will be hoping Paulo Dybala will be fit to play more than half an hour. The World Cup-winning Argentine, who is Roma’s leading scorer in Serie A with 11 goals, as well as 6 assists, has only come on as a substitute in each of his last three appearances after suffering a hip injury in the first leg against Feyenoord.
However, Dybala was still able to make more Europa League 2023 highlights as he scored in second-leg extra-time. Dybala also leads the team with four Europa League goals in nine appearances.
Leverkusen suffer first loss in a long time
Bayer Leverkusen are back in a European cup semi-final for the first time since their shock run to the Champions League final in 2002. The Germans overpowered Union St Gilloise 5-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals to book their place in the last four.
However, Leverkusen suffered a setback in their build-up to their semi-final first leg as they lost 2-1 at home to Koln over the weekend. That loss snapped their 14-game unbeaten run (10 wins, 4 draws) in all competitions.
Xabi Alonso fielded a fairly strong side against Koln, but the players were likely looking ahead to their big midweek match.
Young striker Adam Hlozek, who did not start on the weekend, starred in the second leg against Union St Gilloise as he had a goal and an assist. But it remains to be seen whether Alonso will start the 20-year-old Czech striker or go with his more fluid front three of Florian Wirtz, Moussa Diaby and Amine Adli.
Wirtz has raised his game in the Europa League, with three goals and two assists in six appearances in the competition this season.
History
This will be the fifth meeting between Roma and Leverkusen in European competition. Both teams have one win apiece against the other, while there have been two draws in their previous four matches.
The matches between the two have been high-scoring affairs, with 19 total goals in the four games.
Roma have been remarkably successful in European competitions of late; they have progressed in 10 of their last 11 major European knockout ties, including the last seven in a row.
Betting Tip
SBOTOP odds have Roma installed as 2.10 favourites to win the first leg at home. Leverkusen are priced at 3.25, while a draw is 3.20.
While Roma are not in the best of form, they have shown they know how to win in European ties. And they will also be that much tougher to beat at home. Look for Mourinho to set his Roma side up for a classic European performance, one that will not allow Leverkusen much space in the final third. As a result, expect this first leg to be a low-scoring affair.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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