On Thursday evening, Roma and Bayer Leverkusen are set to face off in a crucial Europa League encounter. Both teams will miss out on the Champions League through their domestic finishes, making this matchup all the more important. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at both teams and pick out a best bet.
Jose Mourinho’s Roma will enjoy home advantage in Thursday evening’s first leg. However, whether that actually plays into their hands remains to be seen; the Giallorossi haven’t won either of their last two home matches at the Stadio Olimpico. While it’s always tricky to compare sides across European leagues, Roma’s draw with AC Milan and defeat to Inter in the last fortnight should show where they are at against solid European elite opposition.
On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen are on an excellent run of away form, having not lost on their travels since February 3rd at Augsburg. They demolished Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium in their quarter-final, winning 4-1, having also beaten Ferencvaros to nil in the Europa League to preserve a 100% record away from home in the event.
Additionally, the goals of attacker Moussa Diaby have been a near constant in Europe. While still only on the fringes of double figures in the Bundesliga, the Frenchman has been a veritable threat across both the Europa League and Champions League campaigns, with five in total. Also effective in build-up play, he laid on an equalizer for Amine Adli on Friday – his 16th goal contribution in the league.
At the other end of the field, Bayer Leverkusen runs an effective defensive unit. Cologne’s goals last time out represent two of just three goals conceded over a run of five matches, while Roma have just one clean sheet in seven competitive matches.
Furthermore, the fitness of Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy is in doubt, which could be another worry for the Italian side. Leverkusen hasn’t reached a European final since a Zinedine Zidane-inspired Real Madrid beat them to the Champions League title in 2002. Still, hopes for a trophy under Xabi Alonso’s management are high. This Bundesliga outfit should pose Roma plenty of difficulty, and I’m backing them to nick a lead in the first leg.
In terms of betting, we are tempted by BAYER LEVERKUSEN TO WIN at 3/1. Bayer Leverkusen’s current form and away record make them a solid bet against a Roma side who are struggling for consistency. Our score prediction for the game is Roma 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen, which you can find with odds of 11/1 on Sky Bet.
Lastly, we must remind our readers of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s, and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose. If you’re concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline or GamCare on 0808 8020 133. Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
