Leverkusen vs Roma Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

The hosts have virtually qualified for the final in Dublin after a resounding 2-0 win and now it’s time for Leverkusen vs Roma prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview, delivered by our Italian football expert Daniele Fisichella. 

Prediction: Leverkusen 3-1 Roma

In the first leg, Xabi Alonso’s men demonstrated why they’ve dominated the Bundesliga. Roma did not play badly, but lost confidence after conceding the first goal. 

Now the Giallorossi have a mountain to climb if they want to reach their third consecutive European final. 

• Leverkusen vs Roma Tip 1: Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals
• Leverkusen vs Roma Tip 2: Bayer Leverkusen Asian Handicap -1
• Leverkusen vs Roma Tip 3: Jeremie Frimpong Anytime Goalscorer

Leverkusen vs Roma Prediction 1: an evident gulf in class

Europa League, Semi-final, second leg, Thursday, May 9nd, 20:00 (UK)

To quote the famous spaghetti western ‘A Fistful of Dollars, “When a man with a .45 meets a man with a rifle, the man with a pistol will be a dead man.” 

Last Thursday Bayer Leverkusen were clearly the team with a bigger weapon and obtained a deserved victory at the ‘Stadio Olimpico’ that all but secured their place in the final.

Roma started the game well, hitting the bar with Lukaku, but, to continue with the cinematographic parallel, shot themselves in the foot. 

In fact, Leverkusen’s first goal was a kind gift from Rick Karsdorp. 

That mistake summarized the clubs’ difference in quality, and even with more than an hour left to play, Roma’s fourth defeat under De Rossi looked inevitable. 

Alonso’s choice of playing with no center-forward, leaving both Boniface and Shick on the bench, paid off. 

Florian Wirtz was deployed in the false-nine role, pulling Chris Smalling out of position and allowing Adli and Frimpong to find plenty of space in Roma’s defensive third. 

The German side gave the Giallorossi the illusion they were happy to leave them the ball, but after soaking up the initial pressure, they pushed their line higher. 

It was a smart and confident approach by Leverkusen, who knew Roma were fired up, given their impressive record at the ‘Olimpico’ in European competitions (last week’s defeat was the first one in knockout ties since 2017). 

• Leverkusen vs Roma Prediction 1: Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.20
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 9/10

Leverkusen vs Roma Prediction 2: surely they can’t, can they?

There were chances at both ends and although Leverkusen came closer to score the third goal rather than Roma cutting the deficit, Tammy Abraham missed a sitter in stoppage time that could have changed the narrative ahead of this second-leg. 

Roma rightly went toe-to-toe with the Bundesliga champions but suffered from Paulo Dybala’s poor form on the night. 

The Argentine ended up playing too far away from goal and Romelu Lukaku was left isolated to battle against Tah and Tapsoba. 

Given the turnover he did last Sunday against Juventus, and Dybala’s substitution after 45 minutes, Daniele De Rossi clearly still believes in the ‘remontada’.

Nothing suggests the game will be a cagey one, but Roma’s task is virtually impossible, given Bayer Leverkusen has only failed to score once this season. 

Most likely the Giallorossi will need to score at least three goals to take the game to extra-time, a tough ask for a team that appears tired and hasn’t kept a clean sheet in the last six games. 

• Leverkusen vs Roma Prediction 2: Bayer Leverkusen Asian Handicap -1 (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.95
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 9/10

Leverkusen vs Roma Prediction 3: one step to legend status

Qualification to the final is not truthfully doubtful, but perhaps most importantly, the hosts are an inch closer to making history. 

In fact, if they avoid defeat on Thursday, they’ll break Benfica’s record of 48 games unbeaten in all competitions between December 1963 and February 1965.

Last Sunday Leverkusen added another win to their fabulous season thanks to a resounding 5-1 win away at Eintracht Frankfurt. It was not an easy task, considering this was only Frankfurt’s second defeat in their previous 26 Bundesliga matches at home. 

But nothing seems impossible for Xabi Alonso’s men, who have now scored 134 goals this season. 

If there’s a silver lining for Roma is that the hosts have only kept once clean sheet in the last five games, but, given the way Leverkusen consistently delivered all season, it’s unlikely they’ll stumble in front of their crowd. 

Dutch international Jeremie Frimpong has scored 14 times in all competitions in 2023/2024, a record among defenders, and has averaged more than two shots in the previous five games.

Despite missing a glorious chance at the ‘Olimpico’ (his xG at the end of the game was 1.1), the attacking wing-back was a constant thorn in Roma’s side and represents an excellent value bet for the second leg.

• Leverkusen vs Roma Prediction 3: Jeremie Frimpong Anytime Goalscorer  (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 4.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 2/10

Leverkusen vs Roma Prediction odds via bet365 as at 21:20, May 5th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Leverkusen vs Roma Team News and Possible Lineups: Boniface set to start, Celik returns

After making a large turnover in the Bundesliga Alonso will return to his trusted 3-4-3 formation. Kovar will be defending the Germans’ goal, the defensive trio will be made up of Stanisic, replacing Hincapiè, Tah and Tapsoba. 

The other alteration from the starting XI that won in Roma should be the presence of Boniface up front from the first minute.

In Roma’s camp Celik will return from suspension and will complete the back four with Mancini, Smalling and Spinazzola. Paredes, Cristante and Pellegrini will play in the middle, with Dybala El Shaarawy and Lukaku up front. Tammy Abraham will, once again, start on the bench. 

Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Kovar; Stanisic, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Adli, Boniface, Wirtz.

Roma possible starting lineup:
Svilar; Llorente, Mancini, Smalling, Spinazzola; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy.

Match Stats: history-makers Leverkusen seem unstoppable

• Leverkusen have remained unbeaten in 48 games this season in all competitions, equalling Benfica’s record between December 1963 and February 1965.
• The hosts have only failed to score once this season, and have netted 134 goals in total.
• Roma have only won one of the last five games and have not kept a clean sheet in six matches. 
• Five out of six Roma’s away matches in the Europa League have produced two goals or less.
• The visitors have only lost one of the previous 10 away games in all competitions. 

Leverkusen Fixtures: a historic trip to Berlin

• Vs Bochum (A)
• Vs Augsburg (H)
• Vs Kaiserslautern, DFB-Pokal (A)

Roma Fixtures: a tough game in Bergamo

• Vs Atalanta (A)
• Vs Genoa (H)
• Vs Empoli (A)

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