Bayer Leverkusen takes one step closer to Europa League final by beating Roma. football news

Bayer Leverkusen extended their impressive unbeaten run in the Europa League final to 47 matches after winning 2-0 at Roma on Thursday. Goals in each half from Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich ensured victory for Xabi Alonso’s men in the Italian capital and give the Bundesliga champions a greater chance of reaching the final in Dublin later this month. If Leverkusen stay in Germany next week they will face Atalanta or Marseille in Ireland and on the evidence of their performance in Rome they will be firm favorites to win their first European trophy since the old UEFA Cup in 1988.

Alonso’s team needed a series of last-gasp goals to continue their unbeaten run in recent weeks, but there was no need for any frantic finale in the Italian capital as Leverkusen’s superiority was on full display.

“We had many chances to score the third but in the end they also had a good chance to reduce the deficit. We are happy with the result,” Alonso told reporters.

“We fought hard, played very well and were very disciplined. It means a lot to us but we still have a lot to do.”

Roma will face a huge challenge to reach their third European final in as many years after Romelu Lukaku barely troubled Matej Kovar’s goal after hitting the woodwork early on.

But Daniele De Rossi’s side would have been given a lifeline had substitute Tammy Abraham not headed wide in front of an open goal in stoppage time.

“We played against a good team and if you fall behind against them it becomes very difficult,” De Rossi told Sky. “We’ve been able to score early in games before and keep things going our way. Let’s just say it was a little different tonight.”

“We had an incredible chance right then that would have given us a different approach to the return leg.”

Roma are also struggling to reach next season’s revamped Champions League in Serie A, while Leverkusen are on track to win titles in the Bundesliga, German Cup and Europa League.

Leverkusen dominates

Leverkusen started with Victor Boniface and former Roma man Patrik Schick on the bench, while Alonso, who is looking for an unbeaten season, started with a conservative line-up.

It was a complicated affair until Lukaku hit the crossbar in the 22nd minute, before Leandro Paredes did brilliantly to smother an overheated corner and hook the ball back for the Belgian forward.

Moments later the away fans began a brief celebration as Jeremy Frimpong slipped past the drowsy Roma back line and fired his finish into the side netting.

But Leverkusen fans didn’t have to wait long to see their team take the lead and it was another mistake from Roma that allowed that to happen in the 28th minute.

Rick Karsdorp was clean bowled after misjudging Chris Smalling’s header, but his weak back pass allowed Alejandro Grimaldo to set up Wirtz for an easy finish.

The hosts were fortunate not to be two wickets behind when Frimpong delivered from a good position five minutes later.

Roma looked shaky whenever Leverkusen came forward and after Smalling gave away a cheap corner under pressure from Amine Adli the home defense left Piero Hincapie free to head over the bar six minutes after the break.

Bryan Cristante fired a brilliant chance from Paulo Dybala’s corner, but Andrić’s brilliant strike in the 73rd minute left the Roma fans in a tizzy, putting the match firmly in Leverkusen’s hands.

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