Bayer Leverkusen vs AS Roma prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-05-08 19:00.
[p]New German champions Bayer Leverkusen could yet add another jewel to their remarkable crown with just five more games separating them from an unprecedented unbeaten treble-winning season. After following up their 2-0 win in the first leg of this UEFA Europa League (UEL) semi-final against Roma with a stunning 5-1 league victory over the weekend, Xabi Alonso’s side made some more history by equalling Benfica’s all-time unbeaten European record (including European competition) in a single season of 48 games (W40, D8)! [/p]
[p]Reaching their first European final in 22 years at Roma’s expense would be extra sweet after dropping out of the competition at this stage against the same opponents last season. The omens are good for a reversal of that fate as Leverkusen enter this on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run of UEL home games (W6, D2), whilst they have also qualified on nine of the ten occasions in which they won the away first leg of a knockout tie in Europe. [/p]
[p]Making the trip to Germany on the back of a damaging 1-1 draw against Juventus in league action, Daniele De Rossi’s Roma will need an improbable comeback if they want to make it a third European final in three seasons. Even the most optimistic of fans may find it hard to make a case for that at this stage, with Roma progressing from just one of their six historic European ties when losing the first leg at home.[/p]
[p]All three of those ties which saw the home first leg end in a 2-0 defeat saw the Giallorossi eliminated, and that’s not to mention their shocking away record against German opponents on the European stage (W2, D2, L11). Perhaps compounding those fears is the fact that Roma’s latest away win in this competition at AC Milan in the quarter-final was only their second success across their last ten continental trips (W2, D4, L4). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: This past weekend saw Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick score his fourth decisive goal across his last four scoring games, whilst four of his last six goals amazingly came in second-half stoppage time! Roma’s marauding full-back Angeliño should have the inside scoop as he has played against no side more often than he has against Leverkusen (W3, D2, L3), although he has yet to register a goal contribution against them. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Leverkusen have failed to win eight of their 12 historic home encounters against Italian opponents (W4, D3, L5). [/p]