Roma Relish Opportunity to End Leverkusen Unbeaten Streak
Europa League Semifinal First Leg: Roma vs Leverkusen Preview
Last Minute Equalizers and Leverkusen Synonymous
Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak has been simply ridiculous. The German champions have scored stoppage-time equalizers in the Bundesliga on set pieces in the 96th minute or later two weeks in a row.
Leverkusen, unbeaten for 46 matches, will put their streak on the line once again when they take on Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday. Roma have already knocked out Feyenoord, Brighton and AC Milan in this season’s Europa League knockout stage.
A Giallorossi win in the first leg of the UEL Semifinal could go quite a long way. We’ll see what Roma’s chances are to end Leverkusen’s streak in our Roma vs Leverkusen preview.
Roma vs Leverkusen
Day/Time:
Location: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
Roma vs Leverkusen Head-to-Head
Roma and Bayer Leverkusen previews note that these Europa League teams also met in last season’s Europa League Semifinal. In fact, Roma are the last team to defeat Leverkusen in the UEL. Roma picked up a 1-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico as Edoardo Bove scored and drew 0-0 in Germany to advance to the final.
With two wins and three draws in the last five meetings, Roma are unbeaten vs Bayer Leverkusen since 2004. Leverkusen are looking for just their second-ever win vs Roma in the seventh meeting.
Lukaku Doubtful for Roma
Roma took on Napoli in the Derby del Sole on Sunday and came away with a 2-2 draw. Mile Svilar made some excellent stops for the Giallorossi. The Serbian international keeper has done an excellent job since taking over starting duties from Rui Patricio.
Paulo Dybala opened up the scoring with a second-half penalty, but Napoli came firing back with two goals of their own. Tammy Abraham, after a long injury layoff, scored his first goal in a year when late his header equalized.
Midweek, Bryan Cristante scored a last minute winner at Udinese. The match had been suspended at 1-1 in the 78th minute a few weeks ago because Evan Ndicka suffered a collapsed lung. Ndicka has since recovered and started at Napoli on Sunday.
Five Serie A teams may very well qualify for the Champions League next season and Roma sit in fifth place at the moment.
They’ve shown a lot of grit since Daniele De Rossi took over and managed to grab a pair of wins over AC Milan in the UEL Quarter-Final. However, Mehmet Zeki Celik picked up a red card in the second leg and will miss this match.
Meanwhile, Chris Smalling is also injured and Romelu Lukaku is listed as doubtful with a thigh injury. Abraham and Sardar Azmoun are options up front if Lukaku, who leads the team with seven UEL goals, can’t play.
Leverkusen on Three Game Draw Streak
Anyone betting on soccer odds today should know that betting on Bayer Leverkusen’s opponents this season has been a fool’s errand.
No matter whether they’re trailing in the eighth minute or the 88th, Leverkusen have found a way to put together an invincible season so far.
Down 2-0 vs Stuttgart on Saturday, Amine Adli got a goal back in the 61st minute.
Robert Andrich miraculously equalized on a scramble following a last-gasp free kick. Leverkusen can never be counted out and they’ve made three consecutive comebacks to preserve draws. One of those was in the Europa League Quarter-Final.
Leverkusen defeated West Ham 2-0 in the first leg and trailed for nearly the entirety of the second leg. Still, Jeremie Frimpong’s 89th minute goal extended the streak. Leverkusen also came back from 2-0 down twice in the round of 16 vs Qarabag.
Bayer finished in first place in the Group H Europa League standings with a perfect 6-0 record as well. The Europa League betting odds currently list Xabi Alonso’s side as -135 favorites to win the competition.
It’ll take just seven more games, in all competitions, for Leverkusen to complete an incredible unbeaten campaign.
At the moment, Jonathan Tah is dealing with a knock injury, while backup strikers Adam Hlozek and Borja Iglesias are out.
Roma vs Leverkusen Match Analysis & Odds
This is Bayer Leverkusen’s most consequential match since clinching the Bundesliga title two and a half weeks ago. While they’ve drawn three straight matches, expect them to be motivated for what should be one of their most difficult matches of the Europa League season.
Roma vs Leverkusen previews note that visiting Leverkusen are on an 18 game scoring streak. Bayer Leverkusen are also +105 favorites to win Thursday’s Semifinal first leg.
Resurgent Roma are +265 underdogs here but it is hard to deny their European pedigree. They’ve advanced to European finals in each of the last two seasons and they’re hungry for the Europa League title after losing out in penalties to Sevilla in 2023.
Roma have a better chance than not to avoid defeat here, as Roma +0.5 sits at -125 odds.
Given Leverkusen’s last European loss was to Roma it would be fitting if they ended the streak. However, Leverkusen have gone 46 games unbeaten for a reason.
Their mentality is such that they can go on the road in hostile environments and get results in multiple ways. A draw is priced at +225 odds and it’d be Leverkusen’s fourth in a row. Meanwhile, under 2.5 goals come in at -120 odds for what’s expected to be a tight game.
For Europa League betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
