Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 AS Roma (May 3, 2024) Match analysis –

Goals from Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich gave Bayer Leverkusen a 2-0 lead over AS Roma in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday, as the German champions approached their first European final in 22 years.

The newly crowned Bundesliga champions and German Cup finalists, who recently overtook Juventus to claim the European record for longest unbeaten streak in all competitions, lost 2-1 to Real Madrid in the League final of Champions of 2002.

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Leverkusen won their only European title when they lifted the UEFA Cup in 1988, and this result marked the first time they had won on Italian soil since 1999, when German striker Michael Ballack scored the decisive goal.

While Leverkusen had the advantage in the opening minutes, Roma became involved in the game as the first half progressed and Romelu Lukaku could have given the hosts an early lead when he hit the crossbar with a header following a corner in the minute twenty-one.

However, things changed again in favor of Xabi Alonso’s men, who took the lead before half an hour thanks to Wirtz, when the midfielder scored with a simple low shot taking advantage of a defensive error by Roma.

“We have fought well and have shown a mature performance with a lot of discipline,” said coach Xabi Alonso at a press conference.

“We defended closely and compactly, so we are satisfied with the performance. But the second leg has not been played yet.”

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Roma defender Rick Karsdorp misjudged when he tried to find Leonardo Spinazzola with a pass from the edge of his own area and Leverkusen’s Alex Grimaldo took charge of the ball, cutting towards Wirtz, who scored into the bottom right corner.

Leverkusen could have doubled the lead six minutes later, but Jeremie Frimpong narrowly missed and shot from near the penalty spot with his first touch.

But the visitors continued to dominate at the Stadio Olimpico and Andrich made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute, leaving Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar with no chance when he fired an unstoppable shot from outside the area and under the crossbar.

Roma had one last chance in stoppage time through substitute Tammy Abraham, whose misplaced header from close range went over the bar.

The two teams meet in the Europa League semi-final stage for the second consecutive season, with the Italian team advancing to last year’s final thanks to a narrow 1-0 lead in the first leg at home followed by a goalless draw in Germany.

Roma, who beat AC Milan 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, have reached the semi-finals of a major European competition for the fourth consecutive season.

The second leg will be played in Leverkusen next Thursday and the winner of the tie will face Marseille or Atalanta in the final on May 22 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.