Everything is ready at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome for AS Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen tie in the Europa League semi-final first leg.It will be Jose Mourinho against his former player Xabi Alonso, the Leverkusen coach who spent three years with the Portuguese at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013. Only Cristiano Ronaldo has played more minutes than the former Spanish midfielder under Mou’s management.Teacher vs pupil – can the Pharmacists cure the ‘Neverkusen’ curse away?What Xabi Alonso should have in mind is that Mr Special One doesn’t lose knockout ties with Roma, nor do the Giallorossi tend to do so with or without him in the dugout.Including the finals, Roma have progressed in ten of their last eleven knockout stages in major European competitions, including the most recent seven consecutive ones. The Giallorossi will rely on captain Pellegrini who has been involved in eight goals in this Europa League (four goals and four assists), and Tammy Abraham.He truly is the Special One! Mourinho’s Roma win the maiden Europa Conference LeagueOn the other hand, when it comes to the Germans, Florian Wirtz is the player who has been involved in the most goals since the end of the group stage, five altogether, including three goals and two assists. In this Europa League, he is also the Leverkusen player that has created the most scoring chances for his teammates, 18. “We will put all our available assets on the field, which are quality football players with a huge desire and hunger for victory,” explains Mourinho ahead of tonight’s tie.##NAJAVA_MECA_7244757##”Either we will win and go to the finals, or we will lose, but with a huge fight. When there are no personnel problems, this team has the quality to be among the top four teams in Serie A and win the Europa League. Injuries are bothering us, we don’t have that much width in the squad, but that’s how it is. We go step by step, week by week, until we get there,” concludes Mourinho.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUESemifinal, first legThursday22:00: (1.80) Juventus (3.60) Sevilla (5.10)22:00: (2.20) Roma (3.45) Leverkusen (3.60)***odds are subject to change***
