Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for Europa League semifinal first leg

With the Bundesliga title long in hand, Bayer Leverkusen gun for a famous double via an unprecedented unbeaten season as they visit Italian side Roma in the Europa League semifinals on Thursday.

Xabi Alonso's side has defied logic this season, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat on countless occasions this season. In 2024 alone, Bayer Leverkusen have scored an enormous 14 goals from the 80th minute on that have either tied or taken the lead.

It has been a total team effort in that endeavor, as those 14 goals have been scored by 10 individuals, with only the heroics of Patrik Schick coming on multiple occasions. Yet at some point, Leverkusen will need to avoid playing with fire so often if they wish to secure the first fully unbeaten season in European top flight history.

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Unlike Leverkusen, Roma do not have the luxury of putting their remaining league fixtures aside to focus fully on Europe, sitting fifth in the Serie A table and teetering on the precipice of European qualification. Italy may obtain an additional Champions League qualifying place next season, so keeping hold of that position will be critical across the final four games of the domestic season.

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Betting against Bayer Leverkusen, who seemingly have destiny on their side this season, would come with gargantuan risk, and thus the Italian hosts sit as solid underdogs for a European semifinal. Still, Leverkusen do not appear as impenetrable as they have for much of the season, needing to wrestle themselves to safety late in games to secure draws.

As such, Roma should manage to keep a lid on the match,