AS Roma will face Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday for the primary leg of the Europa League semifinals on the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and the Giallorossi supervisor Daniele De Rossi has probably the most troublesome activity to beat the one facet within the high 5 European leagues that also hasn’t misplaced this season. Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are, in actual fact, nonetheless unbeaten and it positively will not be straightforward for the Italian facet to win in opposition to them throughout two legs. Nevertheless, AS Roma have an opportunity to do it. Let’s have a look at how.
It is nonetheless unsure if Roma must play the primary leg with no key participant equivalent to Romelu Lukaku, who isn’t at his greatest and doubtless will not begin on Thursday, however he can most likely make an impression throughout the recreation. Regardless of that, De Rossi will rely on each Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Sharaawy to help striker Tammy Abraham, gamers that have been capable of carry the membership again to Champions League qualification rivalry beneath De Rossi.
Find out how to watch and odds
- Date: Thursday, Might 2 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Stadio Olimpico — Rome, Italy
- Dwell stream: Paramount+
- Odds: AS Roma +250; Draw +155; Bayer Leverkusen +125
For the reason that former Roma captain was appointed as new coach of the Italian facet to interchange Jose Mourinho final January, AS Roma utterly modified the trail of their season and at the moment are combating for a Champions League spot within the Italian Serie A, whereas they’re additionally within the semifinals of the Europa League after beating Italian giants AC Milan in quarterfinals. Successful Europa is a big probability for De Rossi and the membership to proceed of their European custom, after successful the Convention League in 2022 and reaching the ultimate of the identical Europa League final season to solely lose in opposition to Sevilla.
Bayer Leverkusen, on the opposite facet, are flying this season and are nonetheless unbeaten in all competitions. After formally successful the 2023-24 Bundesliga and reaching the ultimate of the DFB Pokal (will face Kaiserslautern within the remaining on Might 25) the facet coached by the previous soccer legend Xabi Alonso has the possibility to win its first European trophy within the historical past of the membership and the following step is to keep away from one other loss in opposition to the identical crew that knocked them out final 12 months in the identical stage of the competitors.
Roma might want to rely on their defensive abilities and keep away from the counterattacks and the ball possession that made Leverkusen probably the greatest groups round Europe.
“We should do not forget that Bayer could be harmful after they assault however we additionally need to assault ourselves,” De Rossi mentioned throughout the pre-match press convention.
“The tie is performed over two video games. Now we should deal with the primary one after which we’ll fear about the second. However with out trying an excessive amount of finally 12 months as a result of all the things has modified since then. It is the identical two golf equipment however two totally different groups and two totally different moments. They’ve extra self-belief as a result of they’re the German champions. They’re extra conscious of what an important crew they’re and the very fact they may win a European trophy.”
Aside from Romelu Lukaku, who’s prone to be concerned throughout the recreation, Rick Karsdorp is forward of Rasmus Kristensen to interchange suspended Zeki Celik, who was despatched off in final month’s quarterfinal in opposition to AC Milan. AS Roma have an enormous probability, but it surely will not be straightforward in any respect to repeat the success of final 12 months, particularly in opposition to this crew that appears unbeatable. If De Rossi will get it finished, it is simple to think about that his rising inventory will solely skyrocket in pursuit of glory on the membership he most adores.
