Bayer Leverkusen, still undefeated this season, took a good option in the Europa League final by winning 2-0 at AS Roma on Thursday in the semi-final first leg.
Bayer is not yet in Dublin where the C3 final will be played on May 22 against Marseille or Atalanta, but it has come closer. He also took a little revenge.
The two teams had already faced each other in May 2023 at this stage of the competition and the Germans lost 1-0 in the Italian capital, before being neutralized at home (0-0) and losing their ticket. for the C3 final.
This time, Bayer will enter the return match with a two-goal advantage, thanks to Florian Wirtz (28th) and Robert Andrich (73rd).
The new German champions can, however, have some regrets: superior in all areas, they could have left Rome with a much clearer advantage, as they dominated their opponents, particularly After the opening score.
Roma, in search of a third consecutive European final (after the Europa Conference League won in 2022 against Feyernoord and the C3 lost in 2023 against Sevilla), had nevertheless created the first clear opportunity when Romelu Lukaku took a cross by Leandro Paredes. But the Belgian striker’s head hit the top of the crossbar of the German goal (21st).
47th consecutive match without defeat
This opportunity woke up Bayer who shook the Olympic Stadium with a counter from Jeremie Frimpong, whose shot narrowly missed the target (23rd).
Jostled, the Romans gave in five minutes later when Rick Karsdorp missed a back pass and served Alejandro Grimaldo. The Spaniard found Wirtz in the area who easily deceived Svilar.
Wirtz (31st), Frimpong (34th) and Andrich (41st) failed to knock out Roma.
After the break, Roma tried to react, but without conviction, like the corner headed by Bryan Cristante (55th). Bayer, serene, 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 team, still in the running for a resounding Championship, Cup and C3 treble, went on Thursday to a 47th match without defeat (39 wins and eight draws, all competitions combined).
“We had a lot of 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 plenty of things we can do better.”
