Tammy Abraham is expected to start alongside Romelu Lukaku in the Roma attack against Bayer Leverkusen as Paulo Dybala is not fully fit, but Daniele De Rossi will also switch to a three-man defence.
Roma will visit Bundesliga champion Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of the Europa League semifinal tonight. It kicks off at 20:00 UK time (GMT+1).
The Giallorossi lost 2-0 in Rome last week, so they’ll be desperate for goals tonight.
Dybala is not fully fit, so he’s expected to be replaced by England international Abraham, favourite over Sardar Azmoun. Lukaku will get the other starting spot in attack, but Dybala is still available and is expected to be introduced as a substitute in the second half.
Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport claim De Rossi will also change Roma’s system, picking a three-man defence with Leonardo Spinazzola deployed in the backline, joining Gianluca Mancini and Evan Ndicka. This means Chris Smalling will start on the bench.
Stephan El Shaarawy and Zeki Celik will start on the wings for the Giallorossi with Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante and Leandro Paredes in central midfield.
Only Dean Huijsen and Rasmus Kristensen are not available not being on Roma’s UEFA list.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Roma
Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-3): Kovar; Stanisic, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Adli, Boniface, Wirtz.
Roma (3-5-2): Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Spinazzola; Celik, Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; El Shaarawy; Lukaku, Abraham.