Bayer Leverkusen are out for revenge as they take on Roma in the 2023/24 Europa League semi-finals.
Xabi Alonso succumbed to former boss Jose Mourinho at this stage of the competition last season, with Roma grinding out a 1-0 aggregate victory before losing to Sevilla in the final.
Alonso's Leverkusen have matured and developed exponentially since that defeat, with the German side, who remain unbeaten across all competitions this term, already wrapping up the Bundesliga title.
Germany's supreme force overcame a tricky challenge in West Ham United to advance into the last four for the second consecutive year, while Roma sauntered past domestic rivals Milan.
Here's preview of the first leg of this Europa League semi-final.
Roma
Bayer Leverkusen
Napoli 2-2 Roma — 28/04/24
Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Stuttgart — 27/04/24
Udinese 1-2 Roma — 25/04/24
Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen — 21/04/24
Roma 1-3 Bologna — 22/04/24
West Ham 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen — 18/04/24
Roma 2-1 Milan — 18/04/24
Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 Werder Bremen — 14/04/24
Milan 0-1 Roma — 11/04/24
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 West Ham — 11/04/24
Country
TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom
TNT Sports 2, discovery+ App, discovery+
United States
TUDN.com, TUDN USA, UniMás, CBS Sports Network, TUDN App, Paramount+, Univision NOW
Canada
DAZN
Roma are without the suspended Zeki Celik, so we should see Dutchman Rick Karsdorp come into the side at right-back.
Romelu Lukaku could miss out with a muscle injury, but De Rossi does have Tammy Abraham fit and available again after a lengthy period out.
Chris Smalling is unlikely to feature.
Roma predicted lineup vs Bayer Leverkusen (4-3-3): Svilar; Karsdorp, Mancini. Ndicka, Spinazzola; Paredes, Cristante, Pellegrini; Dybala, Abraham, El Shaarawy.
Alonso
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