Europa League: Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen – probable line-ups

Roma's Italian defender #23 Gianluca Mancini celebrates with teammate Roma's Belgian midfielder #90 Romelu Lukaku and supporters after scoring the team's first goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AS Roma and Lazio on April 6, 2024 at the Olympic stadium in Rome. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Romelu Lukaku returns to Roma’s starting XI for the first leg of the Europa League semifinals against Bayer Leverkusen, joining Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy in the Giallorossi attack.

It kicks off at 20:00 UK time (GMT+1) at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Zeki Celik is suspended for the Giallorossi and Diego Llorente is favourite over Rick Karsdorp for a starting spot as a right-back, according to Sky Sport Italia. Rasmus Kristensen and Dean Huijsen are out of Roma’s UEFA list.

Chris Smalling is expected to start with Gianluca Mancini at centre-back and Leonardo Spinazzola is favourite over Angelino on the left.

Leandro Paredes was suspended in the previous Serie A game against Napoli and will return to the starting XI tonight. Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini will also start in central midfield.

Lukaku, Dybala, and El Shaarawy will form the attacking trio for the Giallorossi, who play their third consecutive European semifinal against a Bayer Leverkusen side still unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season.

Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen – probable line-ups

Roma (4-3-2-1): Svilar; Llorente, Mancini, Smalling, Spinazzola; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy.

Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-3): Kovar; Stanisic, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Adli, Boniface, Wirtz.