For the second year running, Bayer 04 and AS Roma meet in the semi-finals of the Europa League. It's the first time ever that the Werkself have reached the final four of a major European competition in two consecutive seasons. For Roma, meanwhile, it's a fourth semi-final in a row - Real Madrid are the only other side to have achieved that since the 2020/21 season.
In total, this evening will be the seventh competitive meeting between the two clubs. The first was back in the group stage of the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League, which Bayer 04 won 3-1 at home. Since then, the Black-and-Reds have been winless against the Giallorossi (D3 L2).
The two semi-final first legs in Rome are almost a year apart. Much has changed with the team currently occupying fifth place in Serie A. For a start, the Italian club signed Sardar Azmoun on loan from Leverkusen last summer. And in January, a real club legend took charge of the side in Daniele de Rossi, who has overseen an upswing in fortunes since taking up his post. With 30 points in 14 league games under the 40-year-old, the capital club have climbed from ninth to fifth in the standings. In the Europa League, where they've lost just one of their last 25 home matches, they knocked out Feyenoord on penalties in the knockout round play-offs before getting past Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion in the round of 16. Roma then clinched their place in the semis with two wins over league rivals AC Milan. Our in-depth opposition profile has everything else you need to know about de Rossi's side.
There'll be a world champion in both dugouts tonight. De Rossi won the World Cup with Italy in Germany in 2006, while Xabi Alonso and Spain lifted the golden trophy in South Africa in 2010.
UEFA has appointed French official François Letexier for the first leg at the Stadio Olimpico. The 35-year-old will be assisted by his countrymen Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni on the sidelines, while Jérôme Brisard is the VAR.
Six points from three games: The Bayer 04 Women have made a successful start to the Bundesliga season. As part of the first double fixture week in the new Bundesliga campaign, coach Roberto Pätzold's team face last season's third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt at home at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium just four days after the hard-earned 1-0 win at FC Nürnberg. Last term’s two hard-fought games (2-2 and 2-3 from a Leverkusen perspective) also suggest an evenly balanced encounter on Thursday, 26 September (kick-off: 19:00 CEST/live on MagentaSport and DAZN).
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The Werkself are away to FC St. Pauli on Bundesliga Matchday 5. The game is on Saturday, 27 September (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team brings you the latest information on the fixture at the Millerntor Stadion…
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Former Werkself star Jorginho visited Leverkusen at the weekend accompanied by children from his social project 'Bola Pra Frente' in Rio de Janeiro. The 1994 World Cup winner with Brazil and his group were guests at Bayer 04's Bundesliga home match against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday and the first team training session on Monday. At the subsequent meet & greet with Werkself professional Arthur, a few tears of joy were shed by some of the beaming children. "I always feel very good when I come here, I really feel at home here," said the now 61-year-old Jorginho, beaming with joy and gratitude on his return to the BayArena.
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A late equaliser denied Bayer 04 all three points at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday evening. Despite that disappointment, coach Kasper Hjulmand and his players also expressed their optimism going forward.
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