Last year's Europa Conference League winners secured a narrow 1-0 win over the German outfit in the first leg at Stadio Olimpico last week thanks to Edoardo Bove's second-half effort.
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AS Roma will be bidding to reach their second consecutive European final when they travel to Bay Arena to take on Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie. Last year’s Europa Conference League winners secured a narrow 1-0 win over the German outfit in the first leg at Stadio Olimpico last week thanks to Edoardo Bove’s second-half effort. Meanwhile, both sides are heading into the match on the back of draws in their respective league-fixtures last weekend, with the hosts playing out a 1-1 Bundesliga-draw against Stuttgart, while Roma shared the spoils against Bologna (0-0) in the Serie A.
🎙️ Mourinho: “Vorrei tanto arrivare in finale. Non tanto per me, ma per i tifosi e per i ragazzi” 💪
📄 https://t.co/bQZ372fX6b#ASRoma #UEL pic.twitter.com/GPeI7kw3Dk
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) May 17, 2023
Leverkusen, who were struggling at the bottom half of the Bundesliga table at the first half of the season have managed to remarkably turn their fortunes under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso. The Spanish tactician recently led his team to a 14-game unbeaten run across all competitions, which featured ten victories. However, Sunday’s draw against Stuttgart followed back-to-back defeats against FC Koln and AS Roma. The Eternal Bridesmaids shared the spoils against Stuttgart thanks to Exequiel Palacios’s 70th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot. As of now, Leverkusen are occupying seventh spot in the German top flight standings, having collected 49 points from 32 games, ten points adrift of the top four. Since dropping out of the Champions League last autumn, Alonso’s side have overcome the likes of Monaco, Ferencvaros and Union SG to reach this far in Europe’s second tier tournament. Meanwhile, Leverkusen have been pretty good on home turf having recorded five wins, one draw and a defeat from their last seven matches across all competitions at Bay Arena and will surely believe their deficit can be overturned in front of their own supporters and reach their first UEFA final since 2002.
Roma, on the other hand, got knocked out by Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final in 2021, but overcame Leicester City at the same stage of the Conference League last year and went on lift the trophy. Jose Mourinho now aims to guide his team to a second continental glory in as many years. Giallorossi reached this far in the competition courtesy of overcoming the likes of RB Salzburg, Real Sociedad and Feyenoord in the knockout stages after securing a second-place finish in Group C. Meanwhile, when it comes to the Serie A, Roma are sitting at the sixth spot in the standings, having collected 59 points from 35 games, six adrift of the top four.
Bayer Leverkusen probable starting lineup: Hradecky, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Frimpong, Demirbay, Palacios, Bakker, Diaby, Wirtz, Adli
Roma probable starting lineup: Patricio, Mancini, Cristante, Ibanez, Celik, Matic, Bove, Spinazzola, Pellegrini, Wijnaldum, Abraham
Bayer Leverkusen
| Bayer Leverkusen | Opponents |
| Stuttgart | 1-1 (D) |
| AS Roma | 1-0 (L) |
| FC Koln | 1-2 (L) |
| Union Berlin | 0-0 (D) |
| RB Leipzig | 2-0 (W) |
AS Roma
| Opponents | Score |
| Bologna | 0-0 (D) |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1-0 (W) |
| Inter | 0-2 (L) |
| Monza | 1-1 (D) |
| AC Milan | 1-1 (D) |
| Last 5 match-results | Score |
| Roma beat Bayer Leverkusen | 1-0 |
| Roma beat Bayer Leverkusen | 3-2 |
| Bayer Leverkusen draw Roma | 2-2 |
| Roma draw Bayer Leverkusen | 1-1 |
| Bayer Leverkusen beat Roma | 3-1 |
The second leg of the Europa League semi-final tie between Bayer Leverkusen and Roma will take place at Bay Arena on Friday at 12:30 am IST.
| Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma | Key details |
| Date | May 18 (Germany) |
| Venue | Bay Arena |
| Kickoff time in Germany | 9:00 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in Italy | 9:00 pm (Friday) |
Football fans in Germany can catch the live action via RTL network and Servus TV. Meanwhile, those in Italy can watch the match on RAI 1, Sky Sport Football, Raiplay, NOW TV, DAZN, Sky Sport 253 and Sky Go Italia.
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