Bayer Leverkusen host AS Roma at BayArena in the second leg of their semi-final tie in 2022-23 UEFA Europa League.
Trailing 1-0 on aggregate through Edoardo Bove’s rebound winner, Bayer Leverkusen now must win in order to reach the Final, although a 1-0 win would send the tie to extra-time and potentially penalties.
AS Roma meanwhile know that only a win or draw would see them through to the Final, because defeat with two goals conceded or more would eliminate them.
Team News
Odilon Kossounou (thigh) and Robert Andrich (foot) are both ruled out for Bayer Leverkusen after picking up injuries in the first leg.
Patrik Schick (groin) and Andrey Lunev (back) remain absent.
AS Roma could be without Paulo Dybala after he missed their goalless Serie A draw at Bologna with an ankle injury.
Diego Llorente (leg), Chris Smalling (thigh) and Stephan El Shaarawy (hip) are unlikely to feature unless match fit.
Rick Karsdrop and Marash Kumbulla (both knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Bayer Leverkusen host AS Roma at BayArena, Leverkusen on Thursday 18 May at 9pm CET (8pm UK Time), with BT Sport 3 broadcasting the tie live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Bayer Leverkusen have won just one of their last five meetings against AS Roma in all UEFA competitions (W1, D2, L2).
- AS Roma are winless in two previous visits to Bayer Leverkusen in all UEFA competitions (D1, L1), having lost 3-1 in October 2004 then drew 4-4 in October 2015.
- Roma’s 1-0 first leg victory marked the first time that both teams had failed to score in five meetings in all UEFA competitions.
- Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in four of their six home matches in all UEFA competitions this season (W2, D2, L2).
- AS Roma have failed to score in each of their three away games in the knockout stage (D1, L2), of which both defeats came in 1-0 results at Red Bull Salzburg and Feyenoord respectively.
Prediction
Having been fairly outplayed in the first leg with wasteful end product, Bayer Leverkusen know that they must make home advantage count now because it is crucial that they score first, otherwise they’re in for a uphill struggle to overturn their deficit reach the final.
Roma meanwhile have their fate in their own hands but having failed to score in any of their three away games in the knockout stages, they really could do with a goalless draw or breaking that goalscoring rut here if want to reach another European final in consecutive seasons.
Jose Mourinho however will be pleased by how his team controlled the first leg because they’re going to have to replicate that performance here, especially if want to finally score away from home in the knockout stage when it matters most.
Both teams however know that winning this competition is their best hope of European football next season – given how tight the race for the final qualification spots in their leagues are, so I do expect them to come out fighting which could suit Roma defensively if can keep this goalless.
I however do feel like Bayer Leverkusen could nick this to take the tie to extra time but Mourinho is an experienced managerial winner, which could ultimately prove key given his and Roma’s success in last season’s Europa Conference League.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 AS Roma*
*AS Roma to win on penalties.
Result: Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 AS Roma (AS Roma win 1-0 on aggregate!!)
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