MY ACCOUNT
– Roma have won five of their six home games in this season’s Europa League
– Giallorossi boss Jose Mourinho has five major European trophies on his CV
– Recommended bet: Roma to win
Jose Mourinho won his first European silverware as a coach two decades ago this month and will be hoping to continue Roma’s path towards more glory when they face Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday.
The pair meet at the Stadio Olimpico in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, each having lost at the weekend to dent their European hopes for next season via domestic qualification.
Team news
Both Paulo Dybala and Tammy Abraham started Roma’s defeat to Inter on the bench and should return to the starting XI.
It was a similar story for Chris Smalling, who is working his way back from a hamstring injury and could make his first start since April’s 4-1 quarter-final second-leg win over Feyenoord, while wing-back Zeki Celik is available again following a domestic ban.
For Leverkusen, Exequiel Palacios, Adam Hlozek and Sardar Azmoun are candidates to start as their side’s lone striker, with first-choice Patrik Schick out for the season with an adductor problem that has plagued his campaign.
Goalkeeper Andrey Lunev (back) and midfielder Charles Aranguiz (calf) are also expected to miss out for the visitors.
The stats
Mourinho has a masterful European record, with five major continental trophies on his CV. The Portuguese won this competition with Porto (2003) and Manchester United (2017), while he claimed the Champions League with Porto (2004) and Inter Milan (2010).
His most recent success came with Roma, who he guided to glory in the inaugural Europa Conference League last May.
His Giallorossi have won five of their six Europa League home games this season but have failed to win their last two Serie A matches at the Olimpico in the league, preceding that defeat to Inter with a 1-1 draw against AC Milan.
Bayer’s progress has been accompanied by some good away results, winning at Monaco, Ferencvaros and Union Saint-Gilloise.
They have averaged 1.87 points per game since Alonso took charge in October and also have a positive history in this competition, beating Espanyol on penalties to win the 1987-88 edition.
Prediction
After four games without a victory, Roma’s season is in danger of unravelling but Mourinho is the master of these situations.
The 60-year-old has allowed his side to play with more freedom in this competition but is likely to set them up to be tough to break down on Thursday, just as he did in last season’s 1-0 Conference League final win over Feyenoord.
Bayer are likely to attack the game, with top-scorer Moussa Diaby one to watch, having scored 14 goals in all competitions, including two in the Champions League, from which Die Werkself were eliminated before Christmas.
However, Mourinho’s record is too good to ignore and his side should take a first-leg lead into next week’s return game in Germany.
Back Roma to win at 11/10 with LiveScore Bet.
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