Head coach Xabi Alonso made five changes to the starting line-up from the 2-2 draw against VfB Stuttgart: Matej Kovar replaced Lukas Hradecky in goal, while Josip Stanisic, Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz and Amine Adli were preferred to Odilon Kossounou, Exequiel Palacios, Jonas Hofmann and Patrik Schick.
The atmosphere at the sold-out Stadio Olimpico was completely fitting for a European semi-final first leg, and the energy in the stands was matched on the pitch. Roma pressed the Werkself high but Bayer 04 managed to play their way through for the first time after just five minutes, when Xhaka found space in midfield and had a go from distance - but it went over the bar. Similar to the semi-final encounters last year, Bayer 04 took the initiative while the Italian side concentrated primarily on defending. After 20 minutes, though, the Romanisti threatened for the first time when striker Romelu Lukaku headed against the bar from a corner. The tempo picked up at this point, and Bayer's response was prompt. Jeremie Frimpong was played in on the right on the counter and struck the side netting. Five minutes later, Leverkusen pushed forward again and Alejandro Grimaldo cut the ball back for Wirtz to confidently slot in the opening goal.
The Werkself continued to dominate after taking the lead and kept finding the pockets of space between the opponents' lines. This presented Frimpong with an opportunity to score the second goal after another assist from Grimaldo in the 35th minute. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Lorenzo Pellegrini went for the bottom far corner with a low shot but narrowly missed the target, so the Black-and-Reds took a deserved 1-0 lead into the dressing room.
Alonso's men continued to dictate the tempo and have most of the possession in the second period. Bryan Cristante did have a chance for Roma with a header in the 56th minute, but the action largely took place in the home side's half. Robert Andrich and Co frequently won the ball through early pressing, although this didn't result in any clear-cut chances for the first 20 minutes of the second half. Nevertheless, Leverkusen remained calm and were rewarded in the 74th minute, Stanisic laying off for Andrich, who made it 2-0 with a perfect shot into the corner from 20 metres.
The match calmed down considerably after that. Substitute Tammy Abraham had one last chance for the hosts with a header from close range, but still they couldn't find Kovar's goal. Leverkusen therefore have the upper hand in the semi-final.
The Werkself return to Bundesliga action in just three days this Sunday, 5 May (kick-off 17:30 CEST) with the Matchday 32 meeting at Eintracht Frankfurt. Roma then visit the BayArena in exactly one week, Thursday 9 May (kick-off 21:00 CEST), for the Europa League semi-final second leg.
Match stats
Bayer 04: Kovar - Stanisic, Tah, Tapsoba – Frimpong (Palacios 89'), Andrich, Xhaka, Hincapie – Wirtz (Hofmann 77'), Grimaldo (Kossounou 90'+4) – Adli (Tella 77')
AS Roma: Svilar - Karsdorp (Angeliño 62'), Mancini, Smalling, Spinazzola - Cristante, Paredes (Baldanzi 79'), Pellegrini - El Shaarawy, Lukaku (Azmoun 79'), Dybala (Abraham 90'+2)
Goals: 1-0 Wirtz (29'), 2-0 Andrich (74')
Yellow cards: Pellegrini, Spinazzola, Cristante / Tah, Xhaka, Andrich
Referee: Francois Letexier (France)
Attendance: 65,000 (sellout) at the Stadio Olimpico
Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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