Bayer Leverkusen VS Roma | UEFA Europa League | Highlights | Match recap

Once again pitted together in the Europa League semi-finals, Roma and Bayer Leverkusen will reconvene at Stadio Olimpico for Thursday's first leg.
The new German champions seek revenge for losing in last season's semis and aim to meet either Marseille or Atalanta BC in this term's Dublin decider; meanwhile, the hosts boast an abundance of know-how from their recent exploits in Europe. Emerging triumphant from an all-Italian tie in the Europa League quarter-finals, Roma finished the job against AC Milan after earning a slim lead from the first leg at San Siro and then winning 2-1 on home turf one week later.
Gianluca Mancini struck for a second time in the tie, before Paulo Dybala produced the killer blow soon after, and despite Zeki Celik's subsequent dismissal, the Giallorossi held on; extending their quest to make a third straight European final - but the first without former boss Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho's men eked out a 1-0 aggregate win over Leverkusen in last year's semis before losing to competition specialists Sevilla in the final, only 12 months after lifting the inaugural Europa Conference League trophy.
There have still been no Serie A successes since the Europa League replaced the UEFA Cup in 2009, but Roma and Atalanta BC have been kept apart in the semi-final draw and could yet meet in this season's decider.
Should they get that far, the Giallorossi will be led out by club legend and current coach Daniele De Rossi, who has overseen 13 wins and just three losses in 20 games since taking temporary charge in January, following Mourinho's sacking.
De Rossi recently extended his contract in the capital and is now trying to sign off for the season by claiming some silverware and securing a top-five place in Serie A, thereby securing Champions League football for next term.
His side still occupy fifth place in the standings, just ahead of Atalanta, but following a 2-2 draw in last week's Derby del Sole, they still have plenty of work remaining.
Indeed, it took a late Tammy Abraham equaliser to salvage that point against Napoli, while Roma lost a recent clash with fourth-placed Bologna; yet they could still claim a place at Europe's top table by winning the Europa League.
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