Leverkusen vs Roma Prediction: Europa League Match on 18.05.2023

Jose Mourinho and Roma are within a win of a second European final in as many years. Bayer Leverkusen are standing between Roma and the final in the Europa League, and this will be settled in a second-leg clash on Thursday at Bay Arena in Germany from 19:00 GMT.

Leverkusen must come back from a goal down to overcome the deficit from their 1-0 defeat away in Rome in the first Leg.

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Roma have to maintain their one-goal advantage to seal their passage to the final in this year’s Europa League.

Key Highlights

Leverkusen’s Winless Run

Leverkusen’s brilliant form has cooled in the last five matches. Xabi Alonso’s men have won just once in their last five, drawing three times and losing once in the process. 

Alonso’s men’s momentum in the Bundesliga has been halted by picking up just six points and dropping nine in this run. 

They have not been able to break into the top-four fight. They currently sit seventh on the Bundesliga table, some seven points behind fourth-placed Union Berlin in fourth spot, with two matches remaining in the season.

Xabi Alonso will hope that his charges will not carry their domestic form to the Europa League when they welcome Mourinho’s men to the Bay Arena on Thursday for the second and final leg of this tie, with the final at stake. 

Roma’s Poor Run-In Form

Jose Mourinho’s run-in form has been significantly poor, seeing them drop out of the chase for a top-four place and slide to the verge of not making it into any European competition now.

Roma have not won a single match in their last five outings. They have had three draws and two losses in this run. This run of collecting three points from a possible 15 has seen Roma’s challenge for the top-four fade away in the run-in.

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Mourinho and his side now sit sixth on the table with 59 points, six points behind fourth-placed Lazio and two points behind Milan in fifth.

However, Roma’s form in the Europa League has nee good. They currently have a one-goal lead to take to the Bay Arena on Thursday, giving them a good platform upon which to build an away performance. 

Injury Report

Leverkusen

Right winger Karim Bellarabi is likely to miss the clash against Roma on Thursday; the 33-year-old is nursing a muscle injury.

Defensive midfielder Robert Andrich is also recovering from a metatarsal fracture; the 28-year-old has missed the last four Leverkusen matches.

Xabi Alonso will also have to choose his quad without goalkeeper Andrey Lunev (back injury), centre-forward Patrik Schick (adductor problems), and centre-back Odilon Kossounou (muscle injury).

Roma

Jose Mourinho will be without some of his key first-team squad players in the trip to the Bay Arena to face Leverkusen in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final on Thursday.

Striker Paulo Dybala is likely out of the match with an unknown injury. Roma will also miss left winger Stephan El Shaarawy, sidelined with an unknown injury. 

Center-back Diego Llorente is nursing a biceps femoris muscle injury, whereas fellow centre-back Marash Kumbulla is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury. Right-back Rick Karsdop is also out with a knee injury. 

Possible Lineups

Leverkusen

L. Hradecky; P. Hincapie, J. Tah, E. Tapsoba; M. Bakker, E. Palacios, K. Demirbay, J. Frimpong; M. Diaby, A. Adli, S. Azmoun

Roma

R. Patricio; G. Mancini, B. Cristante, R. Ibanez; M. Z. Celik, E. Bove, N. Matic, L. Spinazzola; L. Pellegrini; A. Belotti, T. Abraham

Prediction

Leverkusen will play on the front foot, put Roma under pressure, and look to grab the early goal.

Roma will be solid, narrow, and compact. They will defend in numbers and look to break with speed.

The match will end in a draw, with Roma progressing to the final.

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