UEFA Europa League semi-final second-leg previews: Bayer Leverkusen vs AS Roma, Atalanta vs Marseille

The UEFA Europa League returns this midweek as four teams are set to tussle in the semi-final second-leg clashes on Thursday.

German Champions, Bayer Leverkusen already have a foot in the final but will need to avoid their first defeat of the season when they face last season’s Europa League finalists, AS Roma.

On the other hand, Atalanta and Marseille are just a win away from securing a place in the final, both teams will slug it out in what is expected to be an intense game at the Gewiss Stadium.

With both teams eyeing a spot at the showdown in Dublin, here’s a preview of what to expect:

Bayer Leverkusen vs As Roma 

Leverkusen have placed one foot in the Europa League final after recording a 2:0 win over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico last week.

The German Champions had a subpar opening half of the match where Roma dominated and came close to scoring after Romelu Lukaku hit the crossbar.

Leverkusen returned from the break with more intent and began to take over the game. Their dominating paid off when Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich gave them a two-goal cushion to mark their ninth victory in 11 games in the Europa League this season.

For the Italian side, the Giallorossi suffered just their second loss at home in 33 UEFA competitive matches last week and are in an unprecedented position to achieve the near-impossible task of defeating Leverkusen this season.

Roma were the last side to defeat the German side in this competition after a 1:0 first-leg win was enough to secure their place in the final under Jose Mourinho.

With a third successive final looking out of sight, Daniele De Rossi will look to repeat his predecessor’s feat of defeating the German Champions to qualify for the final. The game is certain to be a sell-out but fans can still buy tickets via online resellers such as Seatsnet.com.

Team news

Leverkusen are still without Adam Hlozek and Borja Iglesias who remain Leverkusen’s longest absentees and are sidelined for this game.

Xabi Alonso rotated his squad in the 5:1 mulling of Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend, making eight changes but the 43-year-old is expected to field a much stronger lineup to face Roma.

Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, Alex Grimaldo and Florian Wirtz are some of the stars expected to return to the starting lineup on Thursday.

De Rossi is expected to travel with a fully fit squad to Germany to take on the German champions.

Romelu Lukaku is fully fit and will be in contention for a starting berth. Paulo Dybala was taken off at halftime in Sunday’s 1:1 draw against Juventus with a minor muscular concern but the Argentine is expected to be recover in time to face the Black and Reds.

Prediction

After matching Benfica’s 1963-1965 long-established 48-game unbeaten streak last weekend, Alonso will hope to guide his side to a record-breaking, pace-setting 49-match unbeaten run when they host Roma at BayArena on Thursday night.

Roma on the other hand are in a tight race for qualification into the Champions League and their hopes were dashed when Atalanta usurped them into fifth place.

Winning the Europa League is the only chance of their first Champions League participation since the 2017-18 season.

This will be an intense match with Roma tipped to be on the front foot, but Leverkusen’s never-say-never mantra will be in play again to help them navigate a win.

We’re predicting a 2:1 win for Leverkusen. 

Atalanta vs Marseille 

Marseille have endured a tumultuous season that have seen them utilise three different coaches at the dugout this season.

The appointment of Jean-Louis Gasset has somehow spurred them into life but despite producing inconsistent results including four straight defeats between March and April, Les Olympiens are beginning to stamp their footing in domestic and continental competitions.

The Ligue 1 side are on a five-game unbeaten streak which includes the 1:1 draw with Atalanta at the Stade Vélodrome last week.

Marseille will aim for their first away win in four games in the Europa League but will face a stern test against Gian Piero Gasperini’s side that have lost just two of their last 17 matches at home.

Atalanta continued their impressive form in the Europa League this season when they faced Marseille last week and Gianluca Scamacca continued his scoring streak when he scored the opening goal of the match.

Chancel Mbemba’s stunning strike drew Marseille level and despite chances falling for both sides, neither team could find the back of the net as the match ended 1:1.

Marseille will head into this game aiming for their fifth European final. They were crowned European Champions in 1993 before losing three consecutive European finals in 1999, 2004 as well as the 2018 Europa League final loss to Atletico Madrid.

On the other hand, La Dea will savour the chance to reach their first-ever continental final and will count on their solid home form when they host Marseille who have not lost any of their last three semifinal ties in the Europa League.

Aside from what is expected to be a highly intense match, two of the most prolific goalscorers in the competition are also set to square off at the Gewiss Stadium

While Scamacca scored in the first leg to mark his sixth goal in the competition, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was kept at bay by Atalanta’s backline but the Europa League record top-scorer will hope to add to his 10-goal tally in the competition when his side travel to Italy.

Team news

La Dea be without Sead Kolasinac who suffered an injury during the weekend clash against Salernitana while Emil Holm remains sidelined and will not feature against the French side on Thursday.

On a positive note, club-captain, Rafael Holm returned from injury and participated in injury and will undergo a match fitness test to determine his availability for this match.

Isak Hien– who was suspended for the first-leg clash in France, is available for selection and will be eyeing a spot in the backline if Holm is not fit for the match.

Gasperini is also set to recall Charles De Ketelaere, Berat Djimisiti and Teun Koopmeiners to the starting lineup after the trio were rested last weekend.

For the visitors, Mbemba– who scored the equaliser in the first leg, is ruled out with an injury.

Marseille’s captain, Valentin Rongier is also sidelined with an injury alongside Bamo Meite.

Prediction

Marseille are the more experienced side, especially in European competitions having already played in four European finals.

However, Atalanta are currently the better team on form and performance and they already proved their capability of beating the biggest sides when they knocked out Sporting CP and Liverpool in the round of 16 and quarter-finals respectively.

The Italian side are expected to dominate this game but Marseille are dangerous on the counter and could cause Atalanta problems.

We’re predicting a 2:1 win for Atalanta.