Europa League: Bayer Leverkusen knocks out Roma and eyes final

Bayer Leverkusen, still unbeaten this season, took a good alternative in the Europa League final by winning 2-0 at AS Roma on Thursday in the first semi-final.

Bayer are not yet in Dublin where the C3 final will be played on May 22 against Marseille or Atalanta, but it is getting closer. He also took some revenge.

The two teams had already met in May 2023 at this stage of the competition, the Germans losing 1-0 in the Italian capital, before being neutralized at home (0-0) and missing out on their ticket to the C3 final.

This time, Bayer go into the second leg with a two-goal advantage, thanks to Florian Wirtz (28th) and Robert Andrich (73rd).

However, the new German champions may have regrets: superior in all areas, they could have left Rome with a much clearer advantage, as they dominated their opponents, especially after the opening result.

Roma, looking for a third European final in a row (after the Europa Conference League won in 2022 against Feyernoord and the C3 lost in 2023 against Sevilla), had nevertheless created the first clear-cut chance when Romelu Lukaku took a cross from Leandro Paredes. But the head of the Belgian striker hit the top of the crossbar of the German goal (21st).

47th game in a row without a loss

This opportunity awakened Bayer, who shook the Olympic Stadium with a counterattack from Jeremie Frimpong, whose shot narrowly missed the target (23rd).

The shift gave the Romans the lead five minutes later when Rick Karsdorp missed a back pass and served up Alejandro Grimaldo. The Spaniard found Wirtz in the area who easily tricked Svilar.

Wirtz (31st), Frimpong (34th) and Andrich (41st) failed to knock out Roma.

After the break, Roma tried to react, but without conviction, as the corner was headed by Bryan Cristante (55th). Bayer, calm, doubled the lead on a shot from Andrich (73rd).

Roma will need a feat on May 9 that no German or European club has achieved this season: beating Bayer.

Xabi Alonso’s side, still in contention for a resounding championship, cup and C3 treble, went on Thursday for a 47th game without defeat (39 wins and eight draws, all competitions combined).

“We had many chances to come away with a three-goal advantage, but Roma also had a good opportunity to reduce the score at the very end of the match. We are satisfied with this result,” analyzed the Spanish coach.

“It won’t be easy against this very good team, but I still believe in it,” said Roman coach Daniele De Rossi “There are many things we can do better.”