Bayer Leverkusen v Roma

Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma Preview

Bayer Leverkusen seemingly have one foot already in the final of this season's Europa League after the German club registered an impressive 2-0 win away from home at the Stadio Olimpico against Italian counterparts, Roma, and having also inflicted a crushing 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the German domestic top flight over the weekend, Bayer Leverkusen look to be in good shape to progress through to the final, while Roma were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Juventus in Serie A on Sunday.

It's been a fantastic campaign so far for Bayer Leverkusen and manager Xabi Alonso as the hosts have already secured the domestic Bundesliga title, wrestling control over the usual suspects Bayern Munich in impressive fashion as 15 points already separates Leverkusen from their nearest rivals.

Bayer Leverkusen have recorded no fewer than 26 wins within their total of 32 league matches to date this term while results overall have seen the hosts put together an amazing 52-game unbeaten run in all competitions and surely places Alonso's side in the box seat ahead of this return leg at their BayArena on Thursday night.

Even more impressive is Bayer Leverkusen's record on home soil as the German outfit are unbeaten in their last 27 games, picking up no fewer than 24 wins in the process and thus underlining the BayArena as a proper fortress.

Roma failed to win a third game overall in all competitions on the weekend as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Juventus and this result followed a previous 2-2 draw away from home at Napoli and last week's disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to their upcoming German opponents, Bayer Leverkusen.

Nevertheless, Roma's results overall in recent times have been fairly encouraging as the visitors have succumbed to just three defeats out of their last 18 games in all competitions whilst also collecting 10 wins in the process, so they too have reasons to be confident and upbeat about their chances here on Thursday night.

However, Roma will start this 2nd leg tie two goals behind their German hosts and so Daniele De Rossi's side are expected to be on the front foot from the kick-off in order to try and cancel out the two-goal deficit as soon as possible.

Despite slipping to just one defeat in their last 11 outings on the road overall, this could prove to be Roma's undoing as they are now up against a well-organised and confident Bayer Leverkusen side who have remained unbeaten at home throughout this season.

Bayer Leverkusen v Marseille Verdict

Bayer Leverkusen have proved to be extremely tough to beat on home soil and the hosts look the more likely to gain a win on the night and qualify for the final.

Therefore, our main bet will be Bayer Leverkusen win @ 1.55

Other side bets worth considering:

Bayer Leverkusen win & Over 2.5 goals @ 2.30

Correct Score: Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 @ 8.50