Bayer defeats Roma and takes a serious option in the final

Make way for the C3! In parallel with the duel between OM and Atalanta at the Orange Vélodrome, AS Roma and Bayer Leverkusen also met in the semi-final of the Europa League this Thursday evening. After losing to La Louve last season at this stage of the competition, it was a vengeful German team undefeated in all competitions since the start of the season that made the trip to the Roman capital. After a stuttering first quarter of an hour where the two teams observed each other, the match gradually settled down before experiencing its first turning point once the first quarter of an hour had passed. Although he initially trembled when he saw Lukaku’s header smashed against Kovar’s crossbar (21st), the reigning German champion ended up taking the lead thanks to Wirtz. Opportunistic, the German prodigy benefited from an Italian defensive error then a lot of work from Grimaldo to put the Rhinelanders on the right track (0-1, 28th).

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Picked cold, the Giallorossi regained momentum without managing to catch up before being sent back to the locker room like this shot from Pellegrini which narrowly escaped Kovar’s frame (44th). Back against the wall, Roma tried to take the game into their own hands to approach the opposing cages. Once again, success was not there for Cristante who crossed his head too far from a corner from Dybala (56th). On the sidelines of the last quarter of an hour, a brilliant strike from Robert Andrich allowed Xabi Alonso’s band to take off (0-2, 73rd). Pragmatic and with effective pressing, Bayer managed its lead masterfully in the second half to win the first round of this double confrontation without trembling. As a result, the German club will approach the return to the BayArena with a clear advantage over its messy Italian counterpart in the final gesture but which is far from having said its last word. Verdict in Germany for the return match with a ticket for the grand final in Dublin!