Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma: Predicted XIs, confirmed team news and injury latest for Europa League semi-final

Marc Mayo17 May 2023

Roma have declared Paulo Dybala fit to play their Europa League semi-final clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

The Argentine striker was absent for the weekend draw at Bologna due to an ankle injury.

After assessing Dybala in training ahead of flying out to Germany, Roma coach Jose Mourinho has said he will have him available, meaning Edoardo Bove, the matchwinner in Rome, will drop out of the line-up.

Chris Smalling has also been pronounced fit in his comeback from a hamstring injury, along with Stephan El Shaaraway.

However, Mourinho is unsure whether he will start the returning trio. He told reporters: “They are in a condition to play.

“We have to manage them, understand the match and decide whether it's better to start it or finish it. Let's see, but it's important to have these three more options.”

Zeki Celik will start in the right wing-back position after overcoming a knock with the defence already missing Diego Llorente, Rick Karsdorp and Marash Kumbulla.

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side has been hit by a pair of injury blows on the eve of the decider.

Robert Andrich (foot) and Odilon Kossounou (muscle) are out for the final weeks of the season, the club have confirmed.

A leg injury continues to keep ex-Roma striker Patrik Schick on the sidelines along with veteran winger Karim Bellarabi (muscle).

Predicted Bayer Leverkusen XI: Hradecky; Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Demirbay, Bakker; Diaby, Hlozek, Wirtz (3-4-3)

Predicted Roma XI: Rui Patricio; Mancini, Cristante, Ibanez; Celik, Pellegrini, Wijnaldum, Matic, Spinazzola; Dybala, Abraham (3-5-2)

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in