Where to watch Bayer Leverkusen vs. Live Stream How to watch AS Roma: how to watch Europa League online, TV channel, odds

Bayer Leverkusen continued their unbeaten run in all competitions to 47 matches with a 2–0 win away in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final against Roma, putting them in a strong position to qualify for their first European final in 22 years. The newly crowned Bundesliga champions continued their remarkable season at the Stadio Olimpico thanks to goals in each half from Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich, putting them in pole position and beating the side that had eliminated them at this stage of the competition 12 months ago. Here’s what you need to know:

How to watch and odds

• Date: Thursday May 9 | Time: 3:00 PM ET
• Place: Bay Arena-Leverkusen, Germany
• Live stream: Biggest+
• Chances: Bayer 200; Sign +320; AS Roma +525

How they got here

Bayer Leverkusen: Xabi’s side topped Group H as the only side with a 100% record, scoring 19 goals and conceding just three, before facing section number two Qarabag again in the last 16, which ended in a 5–4 aggregate victory . Leverkusen came from 2-0 behind in both the first leg in Azerbaijan (2-2) and the home leg (3-2), with substitute Patrik Schick scoring twice in extra time in the latter match. Bayer then defeated 2022/23 UEFA Europa Conference League champions West Ham in the quarter-finals to reach a second consecutive Europa League semi-final.

AS Rome: De Rossi successfully guided last season’s number two past compatriot AC Milan in the quarter-finals. A 1-0 win in the first leg at San Siro was followed by a 2-1 home success, despite Roma losing defender Zeki Çelik to a red card in the 31st minute, as goals from Gianluca Mancini and Paulo Dybala extended Roma’s lead in the had already increased the draw.

Team news

AS Rome: Daniele De Rossi’s biggest doubt is over Paulo Dybala, who is not at his best, but he is likely to start on Thursday, with the Argentine expected to feature in the starting line-up alongside Romelu Lukaku and Stephan El Shaarawy. Celik will be back in defense after the suspension.

Possible AS Roma XI: Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Spinazzola; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy.

Bayer Leverkusen: The German squad is expected to field its ideal starting XI, with Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface leading the attack, and former AS Roma man Patrick Schick starting on the bench.

Possible XI of Bayer Leverkusen: Kovar; Stanisic, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Adli, Boniface, Wirtz.

Prediction

Roma are expected to start strong as they need to score at least two goals, but Leverkusen are still the strongest team and are expected to play the final in Dublin on May 22. Choose: Bayer Leverkusen 1, AS Roma 1.

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