Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said Wednesday his side want to seize "a second chance" in their Europa League semi-final tie with Roma by progressing past the side that knocked them out at the same stage of the competition last season.

"It's important for us to be back here in the semi-final, the last time hurt. Now we have a second chance against Roma," Alonso said during a pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday's first leg in Rome.