Only four teams remain in the Europa League as the road to Dublin gets closer. Bayer Leverkusen travel to the Italian Capital to face AS Roma as they seek to avenge their semifinal exit last year. Marseille hosts Atalanta in the other semifinal encounter at Stade Velodrome.
Europa League | AS Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen | 21:00 | 2 May 2024
Bayer Leverkusen’s latest results suggest they could be suffering from fatigue and the burden of the huge expectations they’ve set for themselves. Eventually settling for a last-gasp 2-2 draw against VFB Stuttgart over the weekend, Xabi Alonso’s men have relied heavily on added-time equalizing goals in recent fixtures. They have scored 17 goals in the 89th minute or later in all competitions this season, stretching their unbeaten record to 46 official matches. It could be argued that challenging for a treble is a daunting task, especially for an inexperienced squad led by a novice head coach.
Adam Hlozek remains sidelined with an ankle injury. Alonso is expected to deploy a full-strength XI in Italy, featuring Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz, and Victor Boniface, all of whom were not named in the starting XI. Leverkusen is seeking revenge for their semifinal exit at the hands of the Giallorossi in last year’s competition.
Beaten finalists in last year’s edition, Roma is looking to go one step further this season. Under the tutelage of Danielle De Rossi, they have shifted from the pragmatic defensive style to an attacking brand that has drawn plaudits from fans and pundits alike. Roma played to an entertaining 2-2 draw away to Napoli on Sunday, showing their tough resolve under the Italian legend.
They haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last five competitive fixtures, a weakness that needs urgent fixing ahead of hosting the high-flying Germans. The Giallorossi have won once on foreign soil in this year’s competition – a 2-1 win over FC Sheriff on Matchday 1 of the Group stage.
Leverkusen has scored at least two or more goals in their last seven matches in this competition. Take the BTS market.
Prediction: Both Teams To Score available @ 1.77, and over 2.5 total goals @ 1.93
Form of all 4 semi-finalists… 📈👀
ℹ️ League and #UEL results only@Swissquote || #UELformguide pic.twitter.com/nE6pcNz0nM
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 1, 2024
Europa League | Marseille vs Atalanta | 21:00 | 2 May 2024
Marseille’s lead-up to this massive European showdown was boosted by a tight 2-1 victory over RC Lens on Sunday, a result that halted a domestic run of five winless matches. Jean-Louis Gasset and Co. have flattered to deceive in recent encounters, albeit a 1-0 victory against Benfica in the quarterfinals.
The French giants have withstood great pressure to progress to the last four, dispatching Shakhtar Donetsk and Villareal at the Stade Velodrome en route to reaching this stage. This is Marseille’s first semifinal entry since the 2017/18 campaign when they lost 3-0 to Atletico Madrid in the final. Marseille has no new injury concerns ahead of this tie, with only Quentin Merlin listed as a doubt with an ankle sprain.
Having fallen at the quarterfinal hurdle in the 2021/22 campaign, Atalanta’s quest for redemption in this competition continues as they travel to an off-form Marseille side. The Italians seem to have turned a corner, winning five of their last eight matches in all competitions.
The improved run of form has given Gasperini’s side hope of securing a historic double by the end of the season, with a date against Juventus in the Coppa Italia final already set. Confidence will be high on Atalanta’s camp ahead of visiting France, following their 3-0 thrashing of Liverpool in their backyard three weeks back. Centre-back Rafael Toloi remains a doubt with a fitness issue.
Marseille has netted eight times in their last three home games in this competition. I’m backing them to score at home, with the away also finding the net.
Prediction: Both Teams To Score (Yes) @ 1.70
