Bayer Leverkusen Going for European Record vs Roma
Leverkusen vs Roma Betting Odds Favor Hosts to Remain Unbeaten
Roma Look to Overturn Two Goal First Leg Deficit
AS Roma were the last team to defeat Bayer Leverkusen in European competition. Last week, the Giallorossi were gearing up to become the first team to beat the German champions this season. However, Leverkusen remained invincible and got a 2-0 win in the first leg of the Europa League Semifinal.
The Leverkusen vs Roma betting odds favor the hosts to extend their unbeaten streak to a European record 49 games, since the introduction of UEFA competitions that is. Last season’s UEL finalists Roma won’t go down without a fight, though, and we’ll see if they can turn things around in our match preview.
Bayer Leverkusen vs AS Roma
Day/Time:
Location: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany
Bayer vs Roma Head-to-Head
Last week, the Leverkusen vs Roma betting odds priced visitors Bayer Leverkusen as +105 road favorites. In the UEL Semifinal first leg, Leverkusen took a lead as Roma right back made a grave error. Karsdorp’s outside of the foot back pass only found Leverkusen’s Alex Grimaldo, who squared it across for an easy Florian Wirtz tap in. Robert Andrich scored a screamer in the 73rd minute to double Leverkusen’s lead and the match finished 2-0 to the visitors.
This is the second straight year the Europa League bracket has paired Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma. In last season’s Semifinal, Roma won 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico and these sides drew 0-0. All-time, Leverkusen are an unbeaten 1-2-0 vs Roma at the BayArena.
Bayer Leverkusen on Cusp of More History
Despite Xabi Alonso’s one game touchline ban and a heavily rotated squad, Bayer Leverkusen still managed an easy 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday. Alonso made eight changes to the side that defeated Roma 2-0 last Thursday.
Granit Xhaka was one of the holdovers and he scored a thunderous opening goal for the champions. After Hugo Ekitike’s equalizer, Leverkusen scored four unanswered goals with four different scorers. In his first match back from injury, Adam Hlozek provided three assists and he could be an interesting option off the bench in the coming weeks.
There are few remaining words for how excellent Bayer Leverkusen have been this season. They’re a ridiculous 40-8-0 this season and have matched Benfica’s European record for consecutive matches unbeaten, in all competitions. A draw on Thursday would break Benfica’s record and send Leverkusen into the Europa League Final.
Goalkeeper Matej Kovar has played second fiddle to Lukas Hradecky in the Bundesliga. Still, Kovar has been the starter in the Europa League. He ranks joint-first, along with Roma’s Mile Svilar, in the Europa League stats with five clean sheets. Notably, Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface are first and second in the competition, respectively, in goals per 90 minutes.
Ambitious Roma Winless in Last Three
In an important match in the Champions League race in Serie A, Roma drew 1-1 vs Juventus on Sunday. It wasn’t an ideal result for Roma but their ambition in the match certainly can’t be knocked.
Needing to turn around a two goal deficit on Thursday at Leverkusen, expect Daniele De Rossi’s Roma to go for it. Even though they’re winless in their last three games, they’ve made European Finals in each of the last two seasons.
Roma have proven to be resilient bunch this season and they’ve had a long UEL journey. After finishing in second place in the Group G UEL standings, they had to get through Feyenoord, Brighton and AC Milan to get to this point.
Roma’s road record in the Europa League has left a lot to desire, though. They’re just 2-2-2 away from the Stadio Olimpico in the UEL but did manage to beat AC Milan 1-0 at the San Siro in the Quarters.
Romelu Lukaku scored a poacher’s finish on Sunday vs Juventus and De Rossi will need him here. The big Belgian has scored seven goals in this season’s Europa League and only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored more.
Him and Paulo Dybala will be expected to carry a Roma offense that has only scored two road knockout stage goals. In a boost for Roma, there are no Giallorossi injuries to report at this time.
Match Analysis & Odds
The oddsmakers see this one as virtually a foregone conclusion. With a two goal lead heading into the second leg, Bayer Leverkusen are -5000 favorites to advance to the Europa League Final. Plus, the Leverkusen vs Roma betting odds price the hosts at -185 to win the second leg. Even a draw (+325) would be just fine for Leverkusen, as it would see them through and break Benfica’s unbeaten streak.
Roma’s mindset will undoubtedly be tested here. They’re not as tactically or technically adept as Leverkusen but they’re certainly persistent. Roma will fight to the final whistle and the Giallorossi show +500 odds to end Bayer Leverkusen’s incredible unbeaten streak.
Both Roma -1 and Leverkusen +1 display -115 odds here. Leverkusen have gotten on the scoresheet at least twice in each of their previous Europa League matches.
Roma have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six games, in all competitions, and Leverkusen over 1.5 goals at -175 is an intriguing prospect. Both over and under 2.5, 3 goals for the match are priced at -115 odds as well.
For Europa League betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
