Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction and Betting Tips: 3/1 and 15/1 picks for Semi-Final Clash

Bayer Leverkusen will look to maintain their unbeaten record across all competitions this season as they take on Roma this Thursday in a UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma enter the match with confidence high having secured a victory over AC Milan in their previous quarter-final, triumphing 3-1 on aggregate. Following a 1-0 win in the first leg, they clinched a 2-1 victory in the return fixture at home, with Gianluca Mancini and Paulo Dybala finding the net in the decisive second leg.

Meanwhile, Leverkusen also enter the semi-finals on a high note, having defeated West Ham United 3-1 on aggregate in their last Europa League outing and being crowned Bundesliga champions. With a 2-0 win in the first leg at home, they managed a 1-1 draw in the subsequent match. Jeremie Frimpong's solitary goal in the second leg secured their advancement. Impressively, Leverkusen boast an unbeaten streak of 46 games in all competitions, with 38 wins and 8 draws during this period.

Romelu Lukaku has resumed full training for the hosts and should spearhead the attack for the hosts on Thursday, but the Roma player we like the look of in the anytime scorer market is Lukaku’s teammate Pablo Dybala. 

Should Lukaku not start the game, there will be a much greater impetus on Dybala to provide the goals for his side, but whatever happens we feel the 3/1 for the Argentine to find the net anytime in the match represents value. 

Across his last nine starts for Roma in all competitions, Dybala has managed seven goals. He found the net against AC Milan in the quarter-finals against AC Milan and in the Round of 16 against Brighton and can do so again here. 

Despite their remarkable unbeaten run Leverkusen have failed to shut their opponents in four of their last five matches, including conceding two at Qarabag and once at West Ham in this competition.

All four of Roma and Leverkusen’s most recent four matches have featured Over 2.5 goal and we think a goal-laden affair looks likely in the Italian capital. One of the key pillars of Leverkusen’s success this season is Florian Wirtz who is one of only a couple of players from Europe's top-five leagues to hit double figures for both goals and assists. 

No player has created more chances from open play than Wirtz in the Europa League this season (24). The 20-year-old – who turns 21 on Friday - has scored 11 goals in the competition, more than any other player under the age of 21 since the competition’s rebrand in 2009-10.