Already German champion Bayer Leverkusen did not lose its 47th match of the season, which won 2-0 as a guest of last year’s finalist AS Roma in the first match of the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday.
For the German team, in addition to reaching the final, maintaining an unbeaten streak throughout the season was also an important factor, as well as fighting back, since the two teams also met in the semifinals in the previous edition of the series, and then the Italian team advanced. (He then lost the Budapest final with 11 against Sevilla.)
AS Roma – Bayer Leverkusen 0-2
The home team started more actively, the first chances were in front of them, Lukaku reached the post, but they failed to hit the goal. In the 28th minute, Leverkusen cruelly took advantage of Karsdorp’s huge mistake and took the lead through Wirtz.
The Romans tried to continue, but the German counterattacks posed a much greater threat to the goal.
What made the ever-maligned Leverkusen the best in the Bundesliga?
Courageous sports director, smart coach, renewing players. And the extensions.
The first half of the second half was more about the fight, the goals were not really in danger, Roma went forward, but Leverkusen defended confidently. And in the 73rd minute, the German team was able to increase its advantage, Andrich scored from a great cross.
Leverkusen, who already won the German league title in mid-April, came very close to the El final with their victory. During its history, it has so far won one international cup, in 1988 it managed to conquer the UEFA Cup.
Robert Andrich, who scored the second goal, receives the congratulations of his teammates. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI
In the first leg of the other semi-final match, the in-form Atalanta drew 1-1 at the home of Olympique Marseille. In the previous round, the Bergamo team, which also employed Dominik Szoboszlai, said goodbye to Liverpool and were finalists in the Italian Cup. They remained unbeaten in their fourth match in a row – they won the last three – and are in a good position to advance. The return matches will be held in a week, the final will be played on May 22 in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Summary of the winners of the El and Kl semi-finals:
UEFA Europa League and Conference League Summary, Part 7
Europa League, semi-finals, 1st matches:
AS Roma (Italian)-Bayer Leverkusen (German) 0-2 (0-1)
g.: Wirtz (28.), Andrich (73.)
Olympique Marseille (France)-Atalanta (Italy) 1-1 (1-1)
scorers: Mbemba (20th) and Scamacca (11th)
Borítókép:
epa11315154 Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz (C) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the UEFA Europe League semifinal 1st leg soccer match between AS Roma and Bayer Leverkusen, in Rome, Italy, 02 May 2024. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI
