Bayer Leverkusen can take a gigantic step towards the second installment of a treble of Bundesliga, Europa League and German Cup triumphs if they avoid defeat to AS Roma on Thursday. Xabi Alonso’s Invincibles carry a 2-0 lead from last week’s first leg in Rome and served notice of their hunger for further success by extending their unbeaten run to European club equaling record of 49 matches across all competitions by eviscerating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in front of their own fans.
Alonso is the runaway favourite to win the Uefa coach of the year accolade on account of his Bay Arena heroics. On Sunday, he rested stars Alejandro Grimaldo and Florian Wirtz while giving brief cameos to Jonathan Tah, Victor Boniface and Jeremie Frimpong. All five should return to the starting line up as Die Werkself chase their first European final since Klaus Toppmoller lost three trophies in a space of a few weeks 22 years ago.
Stadio Olimpico boss Danielle de Rossi is surpassing expectations since taking over the Roma hot seat from Jose Mourinho but his team is losing steam. Although the Giallorossi have lost just thrice in 15 matches under the 2006 World Cup winning midfielder, they’ve registered only one victory in their last five outings – a 2-1 Serie A victory over relegation haunted Udinese.
De Rossi, whose charges are also involved in a ‘man eat dog’ contest with Atalanta of Bergamo for the fifth Uefa Champions League position going to Serie A – the sides are tied on 60 points – rested first choice keeper Rui Patricio plus talismanic Azzuri defenders Gianluca Mancini and Leonardo Spinazzola in readiness for tomorrow’s showdown and Sunday’s winner takes all clash with Gian Piero Gasperini’s Nerrazzuri.
Four time Europa League winner Unai Emery must earn his stripes in Thursday’s second semifinal as his Aston Villa side trail Greek giants Olympiakos 2-4 from the first leg at Villa Park. Emery publicly stated that his team’s main aim this season is Uefa Champions League qualification but with his team already seven points clear of fifth placed Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, he will be disappointed if Ollie Watkins, Pau Torres, Leon Bailey and company don’t put in a good shift in Athens.
TODAY
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich
EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE
Club Brugge v Fiorentina
THURSDAY
Olympiakos v Aston Villa,
Bayer Leverkusen v AS Roma