Roma vs Leverkusen Europa League semi-final first leg preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, predicted line-ups

Roma and Leverkusen meet in their UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday 11 May.

Where to watch Roma vs Leverkusen on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.

What do you need to know?

Europa Conference League winners last season, Roma have made the step up into the Europa League in some style, José Mourinho's side underlining their determination when they overcame Feyenoord (their opponents in that Europa Conference League final) with two goals in extra time in the quarter-final second leg. Just as he did in 2003/04 when he upgraded the UEFA Cup for the UEFA Champions League with Porto, the Special One is closing in on winning a second major club competition in successive campaigns.

Leverkusen, though, will not be giving anything away, with Xabi Alonso (who played under Mourinho at Real Madrid) having transformed his side from early-season strugglers to a real force in Europe and in Germany. This is his side's first knockout contest with Roma, though they have met in four UEFA Champions League group stage games with inconclusive results: both sides have the record W1 D2 L1 against each other.

Predicted line-ups

Roma: Rui Patrício; Mancini, Cristante, Ibañez; Çelik, Bove, Matić, Zalewski; Dybala, Pellegrini; Abraham

Leverkusen: Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Andrich, Bakker; Diaby, Wirtz, Adli

Form guide

Roma
Form (all competitions, most recent first): LDDLWW
Where they stand: 7th in Italian Serie A

Leverkusen
Form (all competitions, most recent first): LDWWDD
Where they stand: 6th in German Bundesliga

Expert predictions

Francesco Corda, Roma reporter

The dream of back-to-back European finals is still alive for Roma, even if they arrive to the first leg semi-final against Leverkusen in less than ideal conditions. Giallorossi have slipped to seventh place in the Serie A standings and a top four finish seems unlikely. Mourinho's side have also been plagued by injuries. On Thursday they will be without Chris Smalling, Diego Llorente, Marash Kumbulla, Stephan El Shaarawy and Rick Karsdorp, with Paulo Dybala and Georginio Wijnaldum also not fully fit. But Stadio Olimpico is again sold out and the fans will hope to push Roma to another magical night.

James Thorogood, Leverkusen reporter
After their 14-game unbeaten run was ended by local rivals Köln at the weekend, Leverkusen's best avenue back into the Champions League is to follow in the footsteps of Eintracht Frankfurt by winning the Europa League. Die Werkself are looking to reach their first European final since 2002, an achievement that would cement Xabi Alonso's status as one most exciting young coaches in world football. The question is whether the apprentice can get one over the master as Alonso takes on his former Real Madrid coach Mourinho?

What the coaches say

José Mourinho, Roma coach: "Bayer will be the second opponent from the Champions League that we have faced. The Europa League is like this - it is a competition of the highest level. There are teams with high potential. But even with all the problems we have, we will compete as best we can."

Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen coach: "I am extremely excited. We can't wait to get on the pitch. We expect an exceptional atmosphere. The opportunity to reach the final is a privilege. We know Roma well and we are prepared."

What comes next?

POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The second leg takes place in Leverkusen on 18 May, with the winners advancing to the 2023 Europa League final against Juventus or Sevilla. Roma or Leverkusen will be the nominal away team for the final, which takes place at Budapest's Puskás Aréna (pictured) on Wednesday 31 May.