Bayer Leverkusen’s Matchday 31 encounter against Cologne has been rescheduled to allow Xabi Alonso’s side longer time to prepare for their UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg against Roma.

Originally pencilled in for Sunday, 7 May (3.30pm CEST), the Rhine Derby will now take place at the BayArena on the evening of Friday, 5 May (8.30pm CEST). Bayer will travel to Italy to face Jose Mourinho’s Roma the following Thursday. The return leg of Bayer’s semi-final encounter is set for 18 May.

Watch: Leverkusen's win in Cologne on Matchday 14 

Goals from Moussa Diaby and Nadiem Amiri helped Leverkusen to a 2-1 win and the Derby bragging rights when they visited Cologne earlier this season.

Alonso’s men - currently sixth in the domestic standings - are pushing hard to achieve European qualification in the Bundesliga, while the Europa League also offers a route into the UEFA Champions League, should Die Werkself manage to lift the trophy, won by Eintracht Frankfurt last season, in Budapest at the end of May.

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