Head coach Xabi Alonso made three changes to his starting line-up for the semi-final first leg: Odilon Kossounou started in defence with teammate Piero Hincapie playing as the left wing-back in place of Mitchel Bakker. Exequiel Palacios came in for Nadiem Amiri in midfield and the Spaniard opted to play Adam Hlozek up front. Amine Adli started on the bench.
The visitors from Leverkusen made a strong start in a hostile atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico and had the first chances on goal shortly after the kick-off: An individual move down the left saw Hincapie set up Robert Andrich on the edge of the box and he had the first shot on the hosts’ goal. The AS Roma keeper Rui Patricio was however in the right spot to make the save (1’). Just a few minutes later, Florian Wirtz played a neat one-two with Hlozek on the edge of the box and then fired in a low shot that just missed the left upright (7’).
The hosts upped the pressure on the Leverkusen defence as the game progressed. Their first chance came from a set piece in the shape of a free kick: The cross from Lorenzo Pellegrini was headed goalwards by Roger Ibanez on the six-yard box but Lukas Hradecky pulled off an impressive reflex save (19’). Both teams played with great concentration and were physical in challenges. The flow of the game was interrupted again and again by players being treated and the half finished with the scoreline at 0-0.
After the restart, both teams primarily focused on remaining compact in defence and physical challenges came again and again from both sides. The Black and Reds were now more often in the opposition half but failed to pose a real threat. It was a different story at the other end on 63 minutes: A long ball from Gianluca Mancini from his own half saw Edmond Tapsoba and Andrich each lose their duels. That enabled the AS Roma centre-forward Tammy Abraham to shoot on the turn but Hradecky made the save. The rebound landed at the feet of Edoardo Bove and his shot ended up in the bottom left corner of the net to give Roma the lead at 1-0.
The home side were even more defensive after taking the lead. The Werkself endeavoured to progress to the last third but were again and again stopped by the resolute Roma team and were rarely able to penetrate the Italian defence. The most dangerous move in the closing stages came from Frimpong with three minutes to play: A chip from Wirtz from outside the box to substitute Sardar Azmoun was misjudged by the Roma keeper Patricio and Frimpong had a shot at goal on the turn. However, the defender Bryan Cristante clear the ball off the line with his chest to maintain 1-0 lead for AS Roma.
After the Europa League comes the Bundesliga: The Werkself travel to Baden-Württemberg on Saturday for the away game at VfB Stuttgart on Bundesliga matchday 32. The kick-off at the Mercedes-Benz Arena is on Sunday 14 May at 15.30 CEST. The semi-final second leg at the BayArena is next Thursday 18 May at 21.00 CEST.
Match stats:
AS Roma: Patricio – Cristante, Mancini, Ibanez – Celik, Bove (Wijnaldum 76’), Matic, Spinazzola, Pellegrini – Belotti (Dybala 76’), Abraham
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou (Bakker 36’), Tah, Tapsoba – Frimpong, Palacios, Andrich (Amiri 90+2’), Hincapie – Diaby (Adli 72’), Hlozek (Azmoun 72’), Wirtz
Goals: 1-0 Bove (63’)
Booked: Mancini, Abraham, Ibanez, Spinazzola – Andrich, Diaby, Tah
Referee: Michael Oliver (England)
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