TOPSHOT - Roma forward Romelu Lukaku (2ndL) Roma's Argentine forward #21 Paulo Dybala and Roma's Polish forward #59 Nicola Zalewski celebrate after winning the UEFA Europa League round of 16 play-off football match between AS Roma and Feyenoord at the Olympic stadium in Rome on February 22, 2024. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Roma forward Romelu Lukaku (2ndL) Roma's Argentine forward #21 Paulo Dybala and Roma's Polish forward #59 Nicola Zalewski celebrate after winning the UEFA Europa League round of 16 play-off football match between AS Roma and Feyenoord at the Olympic stadium in Rome on February 22, 2024. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Roma have Romelu Lukaku back with Paulo Dybala as they try to become the first team this season to beat a very defensive-minded Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League semi-final.

It kicks off at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Olympique Marseille-Atalanta and Fiorentina-Club Brugge on the LIVEBLOG.

Bayer Leverkusen already faced Roma in the Europa League semi-final last season and were eliminated 1-0 by Jose Mourinho’s side.

A lot has changed, as the Germans have already won the Bundesliga title and are the only side undefeated in all competitions this season with 38 victories and eight draws.

Daniele De Rossi took over the Giallorossi in mid-January and lost only three games out of 20, coming off a 2-2 draw with Napoli.

Lukaku returns from injury along with Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy, while Chris Smalling also shakes off a knock in defence.

However, Zeki Celik is suspended after his red card against Milan, with Rasmus Kristensen and Dean Huijsen not in the UEFA list.

Bayer Leverkusen’s top scorer this season is Victor Boniface on 18 goals from 30 games, followed by Florian Wirtz on 17.

However, Boniface is surprisingly on the bench along with former Roma striker Patrik Schick.

It is a very defensive approach without pure centre-forwards.

Adam Hlozek, Borja Iglesias and Noah Mbamba are unavailable.

Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen line-ups

Roma: Svilar; Karsdorp, Mancini, Smalling, Spinazzola; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy

Bayer Leverkusen: Kovar; Stanisic, Tah, Rapsoba; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Hincapié; Wirtz, Adli, Grimaldo

Ref: Letexier (FRA)

02-05-2024 20:00
1/2 Final

Player statistic

1st half
    16' Yellow card Jonathan Tah
    28' Goal Florian Wirtz
(Assist: Alejandro Grimaldo)
Lorenzo Pellegrini Yellow card 30'    
2nd half
    73' Goal Robert Andrich
(Assist: Josip Stanisic)
Leonardo Spinazzola Yellow card 75'    
    75' Yellow card Granit Xhaka
    76' Yellow card Robert Andrich
Bryan Cristante Yellow card 78'    

Match statistic

53
Possession %
47
8
Total shots
19
2
Shots on target
4
5
Shots off target
8
1
Blocked shots
7
4
Corners
2
3
Offsides
0
6
Fouls
12
Roma
Leverkusen

Starting lineups

99
Goalkeeper
6
Defender
23
Defender
37
2
Defender
62'
4
Midfielder
16
Midfielder
79'
7
Midfielder
21
Attacker
90'
90
Attacker
79'
92
17
Goalkeeper
20
90'
12
Defender
4
Defender
2
Defender
3
Defender
21
Midfielder
77'
10
Midfielder
77'
34
Midfielder
30
Midfielder
88'
8
Midfielder

Substitutes

1
Goalkeeper
63
Goalkeeper
59
Midfielder
52
Midfielder
22
Midfielder
20
Midfielder
5
Defender
14
Defender
69
Defender
62'
35
Midfielder
79'
17
Attacker
79'
9
Attacker
90'
14
Attacker
1
Goalkeeper
36
Goalkeeper
9
Attacker
23
Attacker
22
Attacker
13
Defender
32
Midfielder
7
Midfielder
77'
19
Attacker
77'
25
Midfielder
88'
6
Defender
90'

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