Bayer Leverkusen beat Roma and set foot in the Europa League final

May 3, 2024 Vaseline stjohnson 0

Bayer Leverkusen beat Roma and set foot in the Europa League final

Leverkusen will face either Atalanta or Marseille in the final if they hold out next week.©AFP

Bayer Leverkusen have one foot in the Europa League final after beating Roma 2-0 on Thursday to extend their remarkable unbeaten run to 47 games. Goals in each half from Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich secured victory for Xabi Alonso’s men in the Italian capital and gave the Bundesliga champions a great chance of reaching the final in Dublin later this month. Leverkusen will face either Atalanta or Marseille in Ireland if they hold out in Germany next week and, judging by their performance in Rome, will be firm favorites to win their first European trophy since the old UEFA Cup in 1988.

Alonso’s side have needed a string of last-gasp goals to maintain their unbeaten run in recent weeks, but there was no need for frantic finishes in the Italian capital as Leverkusen’s superiority was on full display.

“We had many opportunities to score the third, but they also had a good opportunity to close the gap right at the end. We are happy with the result,” Alonso told reporters.

“We fought hard, we played very well and we were very disciplined. For us that means a lot, but we still have a lot to do.”

Roma face a huge task if they are to reach a third European final in as many years, having barely disturbed Matej Kovar’s goal after Romelu Lukaku hit the woodwork early on.

But Daniele De Rossi’s side would have had a lifeline had substitute Tammy Abraham not headed into an open goal in added time.

“We played against a good team and if you go behind it becomes very difficult,” De Rossi told Sky. “We’ve managed to score early in games before and make things go our way. Let’s just say tonight was a little different.”

“We had an incredible chance right at the end, which would have given us a different perspective for the second leg.”

Roma are also in contention to reach next season’s revamped Serie A Champions League, while Leverkusen remain on course for a treble in the Bundesliga, German Cup and Europa League.

Leverkusen dominates

Leverkusen started with Victor Boniface and former Roma player Patrik Schick on the bench, while Alonso, seeking an unbeaten season, started with a conservative lineup.

It was a cagey affair until Lukaku headed against the crossbar in the 22nd minute after Leandro Paredes had brilliantly taken an excessive corner kick and hooked the ball for the Belgian striker.

Moments later, the visiting fans briefly roared in celebration when Jeremie Frimpong slid cleanly through a sleepy Roma defensive line and lifted his shot into the side netting.

But Leverkusen fans did not have to wait long to see their team take the lead, and it was another mistake by Roma that allowed it to happen in the 28th minute.

Rick Karsdorp cleaned up after Chris Smalling misjudged a header, but his weak backpass allowed Alejandro Grimaldo to set up Wirtz for a simple finish.

The hosts were lucky not to be two down five minutes later when Frimpong shot wide from a great position.

Roma looked shaky every time Leverkusen advanced and after Smalling conceded a cheap corner under pressure from Amine Adli, the home defense left Piero Hincapie free to head over the bar six minutes after the break.

Bryan Cristante had a great chance from a Paulo Dybala corner, but the Roma fans were finally deflated in the 73rd minute as a brilliant shot from Andrich put the tie firmly in Leverkusen’s hands.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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