We take a look at the two UEFA Europa League semi-finals taking place on Thursday night and suggest a bet in each game.
AS Roma v Bayer Leverkusen – Click here to bet
AS Roma opened their knockout campaign with a come from behind 2-1 aggregate win over Salzburg in the Round of 32. They then saw off Real Sociedad 2-0 on aggregate after winning the first leg 2-0 at home to book their spot in the quarter-finals where they required extra time to beat Feyenoord who they had lost to 1-0 on the road in the first leg. AS Roma haven’t been in the greatest of form domestically and they haven’t won in their last 4 League starts and on the weekend went down 2-0 at home to Inter.
Bayer Leverkusen required penalties to see off Monaco in their Round of 32 clash, but there were no such concerns against Ferencvarosi in the Round of 16 where they won both legs 2-0. Their quarter-final never got off to the best of starts against Royal Union SG drawing the home leg 1-1, but they bounced back strongly to win on the road 4-1 for a 5-2 aggregate victory.
Like Roma, Bayer’s recent form has been a bit shaky and they went down 2-1 at home to FC Koln over the weekend.
These sides haven’t met since the Champions League in 2015 where there were 13 goals over the two matches.
Roma are 11/10 favourites for this game with Leverkusen priced at 27/10 and the draw at 95/40. Given Roma’s recent form I just cannot bring myself to back them to take a first leg lead and with under 2.5 goals trading fairly short at 4/6 I think the value here lies in the draw as I don’t see much between these sides and Leverkusen would be delighted with the outcome.
Suggested Bet: The draw at 95/40
Money Back if you’re leading after 70 minutes and lose
Place a double on this week’s URC Semi Finals and if either of your selections lose after leading at the 70 minute mark, we will refund your stake in Free Bet vouchers
*Pre-Match events only. T’s & C’s apply. Refund/Payout limited to R2000.
Valid for bets taken on the games on 13th May
Simply email promotions@wsb.co.za with Subject ‘URC SFs’
Juventus v Sevilla – Click here to bet
Juventus faced Nantes in their Round of 32 clash and they only got a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg, but bounced back strongly for a 3-0 victory on the road and a 4-1 aggregate win. They were then at home to Freiburg in the Round of 16 winning 3-0 on aggregate before a 2-1 aggregate win over Sporting CP in the quarter-finals. Juventus have recovered from a wobbly run of 5 matches without a victory to win their last 2 League games including beating Atalanta 2-0 on the road on the weekend.
Sevilla took a 3-0 lead into their second leg of their Round of 32 clash with PSV and they lost that game 2-0, but held on to win 3-2 on aggregate. They had a similar scenario in their Round of 16 clash against Fenerbahce where they won the home leg 2-0, but lost on the road by 1-0 to make for a nervy ending. It was English Premier League side, Manchester United that awaited them in the quarters and after a 2-2 draw at Manchester United, Sevilla won 3-0 at home for a 5-2 aggregate win. Sevilla have only lost once in their last 9 matches across all competitions and on the weekend they beat Espanyol 3-2 at home in the League.
There is no meaningful recent head-to-head form to go on between these sides, but they last met in the Champions League back in 2016.
This should be a cracking tie and I am certainly tempted by the draw at 26/10 as I think Sevilla can give a good account of themselves here. In the end though I think Juventus will be too strong at home and will take a first leg lead to Spain.
Suggested Bet: Juventus win at 8/10
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
