Leverkusen ‘s Unbeaten Run: 2-0 Victory over Roma in Europa League

Even in a big foreign city, with a stadium that looked really impressive, Bayer Leverkusen didn’t let anything get in their way. They kept on going with their amazing streak of not losing any games in Europe.

The team that just won the Bundesliga for the first time managed. To quiet down the Stadio Olimpico with a 2-0 victory over Roma in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals on Thursday. This win stretched their incredible unbeaten streak to 47 matches in all competitions.

No club from the five biggest leagues in Europe Germany, England, Italy, Spain, and France has gone undefeated for a longer stretch. As last week when they were planning to win the match a tragic incident happened.

Leverkusen midfielder Amine Adli shared, We take each game as it comes, without dwelling on staying unbeaten. We’re not fixated on making history or achieving milestones like that. That’s why we’re performing well and staying strong as a team. Our main focus is on enjoying ourselves out on the field.

The outcome also served as a bit of payback for Leverkusen. Roma had defeated the German club at this very same stage last season. Which happened to be Leverkusen’s last loss in European competitions.

We’re aware that playing here isn’t a walk in the park, Adli remarked. But we approached the game with great focus and seriousness.

Leverkusen’s previous loss in any competition dates back almost a year ago to May 27, 2023. When they suffered a 3-0 defeat against Bochum in the final round of last season’s Bundesliga.

Roma posed a threat early on, with Romelu Lukaku hitting the crossbar with a header. However, Leverkusen quickly turned the tables. Which is capitalizing on a counterattack just seven minutes later to find the back of the net.

A mistake from Roma’s right back. Rick Karsdorp, occurred when he attempted a back pass under pressure from Alex Grimaldo on the left flank. This error left Leverkusen with a promising 3-on-1 situation.

Grimaldo seized the opportunity and passed to Florian Wirtz, who remained composed and coolly slotted the ball into the net from the center of the penalty area.

Leverkusen’s midfielder, Robert Andrich, extended their lead in the 73rd minute with a powerful long-range shot, precisely timed as Roma had been putting pressure on Leverkusen’s defense. Meanwhile, in the other semifinal match,

Atalanta managed to secure a 1-1 draw away at Marseille.

The second legs of the semifinals are scheduled for next Thursday, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion. The final showdown will take place in Dublin on May 22.

Leverkusen’s European trophy cabinet is relatively modest, boasting just one triumph: the 1988 UEFA Cup, the precursor to today’s Europa League. Their lone appearance in the pinnacle of European football came in the 2002 Champions League final, where they were defeated by Real Madrid.

Roma has set its sights on reaching its third consecutive European final. Their recent track record includes clinching the Europa Conference League title in 2022 and narrowly missing out on last year’s Europa League championship, losing in a tense penalty shootout against Sevilla.

In January, Daniele De Rossi stepped in as Roma’s coach, succeeding Jose Mourinho. Prior to their recent setback, the Giallorossi had maintained an impressive record of not losing a European knockout stage game at home for seven years.

Their last defeat on home soil in such a stage occurred in 2017 when they edged out 1-0 by Villarreal in the Europa League.

Before the match, Roma fans orchestrated an impressive pre-match display, with choreography spanning an entire end of the stadium spelling out the word “AVANZIAMO” (“Let’s advance”).

However, despite the spirited support, Roma now finds themselves confronted with a daunting task. They must overcome Bayer Leverkusen, a team that has remained unbeaten throughout the entire season, posing a significant challenge for Roma’s hopes of progression.

Atalanta-Marseille Ends in Level Draw:

Marseille’s players received a heartwarming ovation from their fans at Stade Vélodrome following their draw against Atalanta. This appreciation came from their notoriously demanding supporters, especially considering Marseille’s impressive feat of eliminating Liverpool in the quarterfinals to reach this stage.

Atalanta surged ahead in the 11th minute when striker Gianluca Scamacca expertly placed a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. His precise finish came after he intercepted Teun Koopmeiners‘ smartly delivered pass.

Marseille leveled the scoreline in the 20th minute as central defender Chancel Mbemba capitalized on Geoffrey Kondogbia’s pass.

Mbemba unleashed a splendid curling shot from the edge of the penalty area, which struck the left post before finding its way into the net, ensuring parity for Marseille.

In the second half, Marseille dominated possession and momentum, relentlessly pressing forward. Their winger Ismaïla Sarr appeared to have scored, but the goal disallowed after a video review revealed an offside infringement.

Additionally, substitute Azzedine Ounahi came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 73rd minute. As his curling shot struck the crossbar, denying Marseille a potential lead.

Exploring the Europa Conference League:

In the first leg of the semifinals in the third-tier competition, Aston Villa faced a setback in their quest to reach their first European final since 1982. They suffered a 4-2 defeat at home to Olympiakos, marking their first loss at Villa Park throughout their European campaign. This defeat dealt a blow to Aston Villa’s aspirations, as they were the last English club remaining in European competitions.

Villa showed resilience by clawing back from a 2-0 deficit. But their efforts ultimately thwarted by Ayoub El Kaabi’s third goal of the game.

The striker sealed his hat trick by converting from the penalty spot, putting Olympiakos ahead 3-2 and tallying his eighth goal of the competition this season. Santiago Hezze then added another goal to secure victory for Olympiakos.

Despite a late opportunity from the penalty spot, Villa’s Douglas Luiz failed to capitalize, leaving the score unchanged.

Olympiakos has set their sights on securing a spot in the final on home turf. He plays with hopes in the May 29th showdown in Athens.

In the match, Ayoub El Kaabi proved to be the catalyst for Olympiakos. Who scoring twice within the span of half an hour to firmly establish the visitors’ dominance.

Meanwhile, in Florence, the stage was set for a dramatic finish as substitute M’Bala Nzola stepped up in stoppage time for last year’s runner-up, Fiorentina. His goal secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over 10-man Club Brugge. Which is providing Fiorentina with a crucial advantage heading into the next leg.

In the match between Club Brugge and Fiorentina, Brugge suffered a setback. When Raphael Onyedika was shown a red card for receiving his second yellow on the hour mark. At that point, the Italian club held a narrow 2-1 lead.

However, despite being down to ten men, Brugge managed to equalize just minutes later through Igor Thiago. Who completed a swift counterattack to level the score.

Fiorentina got off to a flying start as Riccardo Sottil found the back of the net early in the match, putting them in the lead. However, Brugge’s captain, Hans Vanaken, leveled the score with a well taken penalty. Shortly after, Fiorentina regained the lead when Andrea Belotti pounced on a rebound to slot the ball home. By putting his team back in front.