Roma v Bayer Leverkusen live! - It ends 1-0 to Giallorossi in Europa League semi-final at the Stadio Olimpico

Here is how the Roma team bus was welcomed to the Olimpico earlier. Goosebumps!

It has been a positive start to life in charge of Die Werkself for Xabi Alonso, with the once legendary Spanish midfielder taking on his first senior management role at the Rhine-based club back in October.

He has led Leverkusen to 17 wins from his 32 games in charge, a stark upturn to the club's disappointing start to the season, which saw them near the bottom of the Bundesliga table.

Leverkusen are also without a defeat in nine games away from home, and that will surely give Roma some cause for concern in the Eternal City.

For Jose Mourinho and Roma, the omens are strong as the Giallorossi have now progressed from ten of their last 11 knockout ties in European competition.

Mourinho is looking to lead Roma to their second consecutive final in Europe after their success in the inaugural Conference League last season.

However, on a negative note, Roma have gone four games without a win in Serie A at the worst possible time as they try and secure a top-four finish.

Here are the Leverkusen players taking a look at the pitch before kick-off.

As for the away side, here is their starting line-up as chosen by Xabi Alonso.

Leverkusen: Hradecky (C), Hincapie, Tah, Kossonou, Andrich, Tapsoba, Diaby, Hlozek, Palacios, Wirtz, Frimpong.

Subs: Lomb, Neutgens-Azhil, Bakker, Fosu-Mensah, Demirbay, Hudson-Odoi, Amiri, Azmoun, Adli.

Jose Mourinho has named his starting line-up for this big game in the Italian capital.

Roma: Patricio, Cristante, Mancini, Ibanez, Celik, Bove, Matic, Spinazzola, Belotti, Abraham, Pellegrini.

Subs: Karsdorp, Smalling, Camara, Dybala, Wijnaldum, Missori, Zalewski, Boer, Tahirovic, Faticanti, El Shaarawy, Svilar

Hello and welcome to Eurosport's live text updates of this evening's Europa League semi-final first leg between AS Roma and Bayer Leverkusen at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Team news will be on the way shortly from both camps!