Bayer Leverkusen created an excellent position for the second leg of the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 2-0 (1-0) win against AS Roma on Thursday. Florian Wirtz (28th) gave the Werkself the lead, Robert Andrich (73rd) increased the score twice in the half. Bayer remains unbeaten in the 47th competitive game of the season and can continue to dream of the triple of championship, cup victory and Europa League title.
One of the two Leverkusen goalscorers showed pride after the important victory in Rome: “We did it very, very well. That has to give us a big boost,” said Robert Andrich on RTL: “We completed our first half well. Now we have to confirm it at home.”
Bayer’s successful coach Xabi Alonso once again gave a warning: “The result is good, but it’s not over yet.” His team showed a strong performance in Rome.
After initial difficulties, the Werkself were clearly the better team for long stretches and should have been significantly higher at half-time, but failed in the first half because they were far too weak in converting their chances. In the second half, Leverkusen hardly allowed their opponents any chances.
Lukaku hits the crossbar, Wirtz hits the goal
But right from the start: The game started without any major highlights, Leverkusen and Rome initially hardly took any risks. Avoiding errors was the top motto. Paulo Dybala made the first noteworthy shot (11th), Bayer goalkeeper Matej Kovar parried effortlessly. Ten minutes later, the German champions were lucky when Romelu Lukaku’s header hit the crossbar. But the Werkself also had their first big chance: Jeremie Frimpong, running towards the goal, put the ball only into the side netting (23′).
AS then gave Leverkusen the lead: Rick Karsdorp tried a catastrophic back pass with the outside of his foot, which landed right in the path of Leverkusen’s Alejandro Grimaldo. The Spaniard crossed – Wirtz just had to push in. Just 120 seconds later, the young star almost raised, but finished too centrally.
Bayer with usury of opportunities
Bayer was now clearly better, AS seemed shocked. Frimpong shot just wide to the left (34th), Robert Andrich was denied by Rome goalkeeper Mile Svilar (41st). As if out of nowhere, the “Giallorossi” suddenly had the chance to equalize shortly before the break: Lorenzo Pellegrini’s long-range attempt narrowly missed the Bayer goal, and almost immediately the Werkself missed the second goal on the counterattack despite a top-class finishing position for Frimpong – like this We went into the break without any further goals.
The Romans had their first opportunity after the break when Lukaku narrowly missed a cross (48′). A header from Bryan Christante from a corner went past the far corner after almost 60 minutes. The Giallorossi were hardly able to create any chances from the game.
Andrich increases with a dream goal
Bayer acted in the style of a top team – to strike ice cold: Andrich got the ball around 20 meters in front of the goal and placed his long-range attempt beautifully into the left corner. However, AS was not yet completely defeated. Bayer loanee Serdar Azmoun, of all people, missed the great chance to connect (83′).
Leverkusen rounded off a very successful week for the German teams in Europe. In a week, Leverkusen has the best chance of making it to the Europa League final. Borussia Dortmund (against Paris) and Bayern Munich also still have the opportunity to reach the final of the Champions League. You can follow the games live next week in the audio stream at sportschau.de.